342 phalaropiptE. 



Dr. W. B. Scott, of St. Leonard's, Exeter, informs us, in an 

 interesting communication to the ' Zoologist/ that grey phala- 

 ropes appeared there in October 1846 in greater numbers than 

 ever before known.* 



This species has occasionally been met with about Waterford.f 

 The preceding details show the occurrence of the phalarope in 

 Ireland at the three seasons of autumn, winter, and spring ; % — its 

 alike resorting to fresh water and the sea; — and its frequent 

 appearance at the same time in Ireland, as that in which it was 

 observed commonly in England. Its visits are of about equal 

 frequency to each of those countries ; Scotland would seem to be 

 more rarely visited, but data for the decision of such matters are 

 often wanting with respect to that country. A few killed in 

 winter on the Frith of Forth and the Solway, have come nnder 

 the notice of Sir Wm. Jardine. The beauty of the bird, together 

 with its liveliness and grace, attracted the highest admiration of 

 all who had the opportunity of seeing it in Ireland. 



I do not find the grey phalarope noticed in the histories of 

 British birds, as breeding in any part of the British Islands ; but 

 in the more recently published ' Historia Naturalis Orcadensis/ 

 which appeared in 1848, it is stated to be "found in Sanday and 

 some other islands, in most of which it breeds." Very high 

 northern latitudes, as "Iceland, Greenland, the North Georgian 

 and Melville Islands," || are generally resorted to by this species 

 as breeding-haunts. 



Mr. W. Galbraith, a bird-preserver, who had been resident for 

 some time in Belfast, and was well acquainted with different 



* No. for March 1849 (vol. vii. p. 2384). The year is printed 1845 in the jour- 

 nal, but considering from the number of these birds which appeared in Ireland in 

 1846, that this was most probably the year, I wrote to Dr. Scott on the subject, 

 and was politely informed that such was the case ; 1845 being a misprint or error in 

 transcribing the note. . 



f Dr. R. J. BnrMtt. 



\ Dec. 1849. I saw in the collection of Mr. J. Watters, jun., Dublin, three 

 phalaropes, one of which was shot in the bay there on the 13th of September, 1847. 

 The others were sent in a recent state to a bird-preserver in that city on the 28th of 

 February and 20th of June, 1849, but whence, I could not learu. The last specimen 

 is the only one I have known to be procured in the summer. 



II Yarrell. 



