EFFECT OF SEVERE FROST ON ANIMAL LIFE. 291 
they are soon away again. Mr. Henry Hussey, writing in ‘ ‘lhe 
Zoologist’ for 1860-4, states that he has noticed eight different 
species on the London waters, viz., the Gadwall, Widgeon, Teal, 
Pochard, Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck and Golden- 
eye. As these had all perfect wings, it is probable that most of 
them were really wild birds. 
LirtLe GreBeE, Podiceps minor.— A casual visitor to the 
London waters. In February, 1863, Mr. Hussey observed a 
Little Grebe, in winter plumage, on the Serpentine. I noticed 
this bird there the same year, and in 1871 I saw one in the 
ornamental water in Kensington Gardens. Mr. Harting, in his 
‘Fere Nature of the London Parks,’ says, ‘‘ We have observed a 
Little Grebe on the round pond in Kensington Gardens; and 
were not a little surprised one summer to find the bird nesting 
there, the nest, a floating shallow structure, being moored to some 
aquatic plants at a distance from the shore.” 
Common TERN, Sterna hirwndo.—A casual visitor. During 
the periods of migration this bird is frequently seen at the 
Serpentine and on the Thames. 
Many Gulls also, more particularly the Kirrrwaxe, Larus 
tridactylus, and the Common Guu, Larus canus, pay a flying visit 
to our London waters. 
THE EFFECT OF SEVERE FROST ON ANIMAL LIFE, 
AS OBSERVED IN THE COUNTY MAYO. 
By Rosert WARREN. 
Tue past winter of 1878-79 will be long remembered for its 
severity, and for the lengthened period during which the ground 
was covered by snow; for, although more intense cold was 
experienced during the frost of January, 1867 (the thermometer 
indicating twenty-three degrees of frost on the 16th of that 
month, while sixteen degrees of frost was the lowest registered 
here during the past winter), yet the cold of 1878-79 was 
more severely felt by both birds and beasts, in consequence of 
the low state of the temperature having continued with little 
intermission from the last week of October until March. 
A remarkable fact connected with the coldest part of the 
season in December and January was the frequent alternation of 
