NOTES AND QUEKIES. £75 



where Mr. Johnston had observed the nest, one of our party climbed the 

 larch, the hen bird remaining on the nest almost till he reached it, when 

 she flew off to a tree hard by. Four young were in the nest, but, as we 

 were anxious that they should not be disturbed, our friend quickly 

 descended. No sooner had he left the tree than I saw the female return, 

 and again sit upon the young ; and shortly after I heard the plaintive call- 

 note of the cock bird, and saw him very distinctly as he approached the 

 nest, and evidently fed the female as she sat upon the young. Not far 

 distant we found a pair of Stock Doves, which I believe are breeding near 

 the Castle Rock ; and above them saw a Kestrel closely pursued by a Ring 

 Ousel, which dashed at him whenever he ventured to alight near the 

 summit. These woods afford opportunities to ornithologists almost un- 

 rivalled in Ireland, — Crossbills, Redstarts, and Wood Warblers having 

 been found in the neighbourhood, — and no one is, I think, more competent 

 to show would-be observers all that is to be seen than my friend Mr. James 

 Johnston, of Novara, Bray, a most ardent ornithologist, who spends the 

 greater part of his time in these cool and delightful summer retreats. — 

 Chakles W. Benson (Rathmines School, Dublin). 



Montagu's Harrier in Wexford. — An adult male of this species was 

 shot en May 14th at Balafad, near Croaghan Mountain. This is, I believe, 

 the first occurrence of this bird in mature plumage in Ireland, the three 

 previous examples obtained having been all in the immature brown 

 plumage. The stomach of this specimen was filled with the remains of a 

 Sky Lark. — Edward Williams (Dame Street, Dublin). 



Manx Shearwater on the Saltee Islands. — On May 18th, 1889, I 

 visited the Saltee Islands, Co. Wexford, in company with Lieut. J. G. 

 Millais, and we discovered a small colony of Manx Shearwaters breeding 

 on the South Island. Two eggs were taken. As many have searched in 

 vain for this species breeding on the Saltees, it may be worth mentioning. 

 On the North Island I believe the Shearwater also breeds, and probably in 

 larger numbers, but not having been on it after nightfall I could not 

 ascertain this with certainty. My first visit to the Saltees was in May, 

 1885, and at that time the Puffins were extremely numerous. In 1889 

 they had greatly decreased, there being scarcely a third of the number, 

 while other species were about the same. — Richard M. Barrington. 



Black Terns in Co. Wicklow — On May 24th last I saw a little flock 

 of eight or ten Black Terns, Sterna nigra, on the Britlas Ponds, about six 

 miles from Blessington, Co. Wicklow. — E. Williams (Dame St., Dublin). 



Note on the Turnstone. — The Turnstone (Strepsilas interpret) may be 

 said to be the last of the shore-birds to depart, and the first to return. Its 



