76 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
killed birds. I think the visitation is about over, as I hear now of only 
here and there a straggler or two left behind, and it may be many a long 
year before they pay us another visit.—C. B. Dacx (Holt, Norfolk). 
Scarcity of the Carrion Crow in Norfolk.—Referring to the Editor's 
suggestion in the footnote (p. 10), it is possible that some of the Black 
Crows seen by me in the marsh were young Rooks, but some were certainly 
Carrion Crows. I am quite aware of the scarcity—-even rarity—of the 
latter bird in the northern portion of Norfolk, and these were the first I 
had met with in that district, although I saw some flying low over Hickling 
Broad in December, 1886.—Otiver VY. APLIN. 
Lapland Bunting in Ireland.—In the migration schedule of Mr. 
George Dunleavy, Principal Lightkeeper on the Fastnet Rock, Co. Cork, 
seven miles from shore, the following entry occurs under date Oct. 16th, 
1887 :—* One Skylark and one Twite (supposed) dead on rock, at 9 a.m.— 
believed to be killed striking; wind light, east, clear.” On the night of 
15th several Skylarks and Starlings are entered as striking, 8 to 11 p.m.; 
wind E.N.E., hazy. The “ Twite (supposed) ” was forwarded to me in the 
flesh, and it proved to be a female Lapland Bunting, Plectrophanes 
lapponicus. This is the first instance of the occurrence of this species in 
Ireland. Prof. Newton writes that the Greenland examples of P. lapponicus 
are generally larger than those from Europe, and he thinks my specimen 
is of European origin, but does not speak positively. Dr. Gadow is inclined 
to hold the opposite opinion, but he also expresses himself cautiously. The 
above occurrence is mentioned briefly in Saunders’s ‘ Illustrated Manual of 
British Birds,’ but none of the above details have yet been published.— 
R. M. Barrineron (Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow). 
Crossbills in Ireland.—I have received several Crossbills lately from 
Letterkenny (Co. Donegal), Doneraile (Co. Cork), Parsonstown, King’s 
County, Basonbay (Co. Cavan), Tipperary, and Edenderry, which shows 
they are very common in Ireland this winter. They belong, without 
exception, to the common species.—EH. Wiutams (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 
Swallows in December.— On the morning o December 17th, six 
Martins, Hirundo urbica, were observed feeding about the cliffs near 
Marazion, Cornwall, and I enclose a specimen which was shot for identifi- 
cation. On the previous evening I watched for some time three of them, 
apparently male birds in full plumage, which appeared quite as strong and 
active as they are in the summer time. Since September last this species 
has appeared at uncertain intervals, from one to three weeks apart, and in 
sunshine just as frequently as in dull and cold weather. For some weeks 
past, on bright and mild days, the Starlings have been flying about picking 
up insects in the air, very much after the fashion of Swallows,—F, W. 
Mu.vert (Marazion, Cornwall). 
