296 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Associated with the Gasteropods were Cray-fish (Astacus fluvi- 
atilis), also introduced into Ireland, probably towards the end of 
the last century, and therefore by no means generally distributed, 
though common in certain places. Amongst the Mollusca I noticed 
a very large Pinna ingens, from the west coast of Ireland, and 
various kinds of Plaice, Burbot, Bream, &c. The Asteroids 
included fine specimens of Anthea cereus, Johnst., the beautiful 
Adamsia maculata, Johnst., Actinia mesembryanthemum, Ellis, 
A. coccinia, Miill., Zealia crassicornis, &c. 
The Dublin Fish Market was not so well stocked as I 
expected. Many shell-fish are eaten; besides oysters, there 
are the large Cardiwm, Pholas, Mya, Mytilus, Patella, Litorina, 
Fusus, Buccinium. The mussels are eaten raw, the whelks 
cooked. 
Very remarkable bird-cages are used here. The actual cage 
forms a mill-wheel of trellis-work, which is fastened on a 
semicircle of wire, and turns round like our squirrels’ wheels 
when the bird hops on to the step. A tin boat with flags is 
fastened under the wheel, so that the whole reminds one of 
a miniature steamboat. Little cages with movable wheels, like 
the squirrel-cages already mentioned, are also used here for 
white mice. 
(To be continued.) 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
Great Busrarp 1x Essex.—I have only lately seen the last few 
numbers of ‘ ‘I'he Zoologist,’ and write to say that Mr. Harting is perfectly 
correct in stating (p. 144) that the bird referred to by Mr. Travis is the 
same as Mr. Smoothy’s specimen. To speak more correctly, however, 
I believe the locality should be close to Hull Bridge, on the River Crouch, 
at Woodham Ferrers. This is the only bird actually shot in the county 
that I have seen; but at the meeting of the Essex Naturalists’ Club at 
which my paper was read, Mr. Fitch is reported to have said that he had 
“heard of two other specimens in Essex this winter, one at Manningtree 
and one at Maldon.” I have been unable to obtain particulars of these, 
and have nowhere seen their capture recorded. It is very desirable that 
some further information should be obtained. 1 have had the pleasure of 
_ examining both the Woodham and the West Wickham specimens, They 
