197 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Water-Shrew in Surrey. — I happened, on April 11th, to observe a 

 Water-Shrew {Crossopus fodiens) on tlie bank of a small stream which 

 flows into the Tillingbourne at Abinger. Although seldom seen, 

 there is no reason to suppose that this very interesting small mam- 

 mal is not generally distributed throughout Surrey. A collector tells 

 me that he has discovered and trapped numbers near Oxshott and 

 near Milford. I was able to watch the one I have mentioned for 

 some minutes at two yards' distance. Its powers of vision did not 

 seem great, though when I moved it took refuge for a moment under 

 the bank. I was struck with the extraordinary strength with which 

 it swam against the clear, rapid stream of the narrow brook. It 

 remained about ten or fifteen seconds under water, always heading 

 against the stream, and I could see it nosing the bottom and poking 

 under the stones like a trout grubbing for food. Its movements were 

 exceedingly rapid, and when it came ashore and shook itself, as it did 

 at frequent intervals, its fur seemed as dry and soft as a mole's. 

 Since most Shrev/s are nocturnal, I must add that this one was 

 active in brilliant sunshine at four p.m. — Haeold Kussell (Shere, 

 Surrey). 



AVES. 



White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), on Migration, visiting Bartragh 

 Island, Killala Bay. — An interesting fact in the history of Motacilla 

 alba is that, on the spring migration to their northern breeding 

 haunts, the line of flight of part of the migratory host appears to be 

 across Ireland, and in their course pass over the island of Bartragh, 

 apparently going due north over Killala Bay, as if to Iceland and 

 Norway. I first met this interesting species on April 25th, 1851, on 

 the island of Bartragh, when observing a solitary bird feeding, after 

 the harrows, in a field where barley was being sown. My attention 

 was attracted by its very light grey-coloured back, and the large 

 amount of white on forehead and cheeks, and also by its quiet move- 

 ments while feeding. It at once occurred to me that it was Mota- 

 cilla alba, a bird I had never seen before, so, changing the charge in 



