7416 Dublin Natural History Society. 



British islands, and which has been for many years in the Society's possession. I was 

 told by the man who looked after Mr. Clive's bird that it moulted its feathers towards 

 the end of the summer; and it certainly was in beautiful plumage when I saw it at 

 Ballycory the last week in September. I may perhaps be permitted to add that, as 

 far as my own knowledge extends, we are without any certain information respecting 

 the change or changes of plumage in this species ; and I believe that any person who 

 could furnish reliable facts bearing on this subject would be doing good service to 

 Ornithology." 



Professor Kinahan remarked that this bird had been recorded in the winter of 

 five various years, since 1812, in Ireland, in one of which, 1835, it had occurred in 

 Antrim, Tyrone, Longford and Mayo. The specimen from Tyrone was in the Society's 

 Museum, having been presented by Edward Waller, Esq., in 1837. It had occurred 

 in Down and Donegal. The last occurrence which was recorded was of a pair which 

 occurred to Professor Kinahan himself, in December, 1853, in Tipperary. 



Mr. J.B. Doyle remarked that he had seen, somet ime since, a fine specimen of the 

 snowy owl, in the possession of his friend Mr. Rutledge, of Ballinrobe, county Mayo, 

 in which neighbourhood it had been procured in the winter of 1839, This specimen 

 appears to have been hitherto unrecorded. 



Occurrence of Alosa communis near Killaloe. 



Professor Kinahan, on the part of the Kev. C. Mayne, of Killaloe, exhibited a 

 specimen of the allice shad (Alosa communis) which had been captured in the pots of 

 the eel fisheries, a mile from Killaloe. The common shad {A.finta) is a well-known 

 migrant to some of our southern rivers, and has also occurred in the north and east. 

 The distinctions between the two species are very striking. 



The President said the allice shad is distinguished from the twaite shad (A. finta) 

 by not possessing teeth, the absence of the lateral lines and spots, and its being alto- 

 gether a larger and coarser fish. It is allied to the Clupeidse, or herrings. Although 

 so little appears to have been recorded of its localities, it is by no means of uncommon 

 occurrence on the west coast. It has been seen in Kenmare River, in Ventry Harbour 

 and Dingle Bay, and is frequently abundant in Limerick Harbour, and Brandon 

 Creek, on the coast of Kerry. In the latter place it has been taken of large size, in 

 bag-nets set for salmon. This new locality in the Shannon is therefore of additional 

 interest. The allice shad is a marine species, and only leaves the salt water for a 

 period, in the early summer, to deposit its spawn in fresh water, where it is some- 

 limes also met in the autumn months. Where deep-water rivers run into a bay or 

 estuary the shad ascends the river some distance from tidal influence, and frequents 

 the stillest part of the river to spawn. 



Mr. J. B. Doyle presented and exhibited to the Meeting a collection of marine 

 Zoophytes and Polyzoa, obtained on the shores of Dublin Bay. He deferred any 

 remarks till the completion of the collection. 



The Rev. F. Vize, of Bray, and the Rev. Charles Mayne, of Killaloe, were elected 

 Corresponding Members ; and George Dawson, Esq., was elected an Associate Mem- 

 ber.— >F. A. 



