OCCASIONAL NOTES. 437 
This is the first reported occurrence of the species in East Lothian for 
many years.—C. E. 8. Cuampers (239, High Street, Edinburgh). 
[Mr. Robert Gray, in his ‘ Birds of the West of Scotland,’ p- 500, says, 
“On the eastern shores of Scotland the Fulmar ranks only as a straggling 
winter visitant. In East Lothian it is occasionally found in December and 
January. I have seen specimens that were cast up dead on the beach near 
Dunbar.”—Ep.] 
RED-BAacKED SuRIke IN IRELAND.—A male specimen of the Red-backed 
Shrike, Lanius collurio, came into my possession on the 12th August last. 
It was shot on the 10th of that month at a glen near Castlereagh, Co. Down, 
about three miles from Belfast. It was said to have been one of a party of 
five or six. The contents of the gizzard were common horse-beetles. 
I have no record of any Irish-killed specimen before this. — Tuomas 
Darracu (Belfast Museum). 
[So far as we are aware, this is the first recorded instance of the 
occurrence of the Red-backed Shrike in Ireland.—Ep.] 
Tue Eee or Owen’s Apreryx.—I should be obliged if any of your 
readers would refer me to recorded or other specimens in Museums or 
private collections of the egg of the small South Island Apteryx of New 
Zealand, Apteryx Owenii.—J. A. Harviz Brown (Dunipace House, 
Larbert, N. B.) 
WryNeck IN Prrrasuire.—On the 6th September I had a specimen 
of the Wryneck brought to me by a lad who caught it on the bank of the 
Caledonian Railway near here. It was an adult bird and in good condition, 
having evidently feasted on ants previous to being taken. I have it preserved 
and in my collection. This is, so far as I can learn, its first appearance in 
this county.—Tuomas Marsuatu (Stanley, near Perth). 
A Hen Swmmine.—A hen, the property of Mr. A. Crush, of Mount- 
nessing Hall, Essex, in its anxiety for the safety of a brood of young ducks 
which it had hatched, has successfully mastered the art of swimming, and 
may be seen floating about with the ducklings on the pond near the house, 
apparently quite at home.—F.. Kerry (Harwich). 
Sapine’s Gutu in InELaND.—A very perfect specimen of this rare gull 
was shot on the coast of Donegal, on the 19th September, and has been 
forwarded to us for preservation. It is in an immature stage of plumage— 
evidently a bird of the year.—Wixtiams & Son (Dame Street, Dublin). 
Earzy ApRivat or tHE SNow Buntine.—Two old male Snow Buntings, 
shot on the 21st September, have been sent to us from Dingle, Co. Kerry ; 
another was seen at Malahide, Co. Dublin, on the 29th.—Ip. 
