170 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Toad. — On Nov. 5th, a cold day, with a northerly wind, 

 a Toad was leisurely making its way along the top of the river- 

 wall, bound probably for winter quarters. During summer the 

 mud of which these walls are composed becomes, from the sun's 

 heat, full of deep cracks and fissures. These, as well as the 

 numerous holes and runs of Moles by which the walls are 

 perforated in all directions, make good retreats for hibernating 

 Toads. I have several times found these creatures, during the 

 winter months, laid up in Moles' holes, and also buried in the 

 dry earth at the top of hedge-banks, where the thick hedge above 

 throws off most of the rain. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM Co. WEXFORD. 

 By G. E. H. Baerett- Hamilton. 



The year 1890 brought with it many rare birds to Wexford, 

 and the pages of ' The Zoologist ' have already made known the 

 occurrence of a Montagu's Harrier (p. 275), a Honey Buzzard 

 (p. 355), and a Hobby (p. 357), as well as the breeding of the 

 Manx Shearwater on the Saltee Islands (p. 273). 



The greater part of January was remarkable for the prevalence 

 of storms of such severity that many Cormorants, which took 

 refuge on the Tuskar Rock, died from hunger, as I am informed 

 by the light-keeper, Mr. P. Page. 



Immense numbers of Starlings were in the country up to the 

 end of February, when most of them took their departure. Very 

 few of these birds breed in this part of Ireland, nearly all being 

 only winter visitors. On Feb. 22nd a Blackcap (accurately 

 described by Mr. Page) rested on the Tuskar Rock at 8 a.m. 

 This bird has been only twice previously identified with certainty 

 in this county, namely, on August 3rd, 1886, and Aug. 2nd, 1887 ; 

 on both occasions by Mr. C. B. Moffat, at Ballyhyland. 



The first Wheatear was reported on March 12th, at the Hook 

 Tower Lighthouse, and the first Ring Ouzel on April I4th at the 

 Tuskar. The latter is chiefly known in this county as a visitor 

 on migration, but Mr. Moffat has observed it on Blackstairs 

 Mount, where (though no nest has yet been found) there is every 

 reason to believe that it breeds. 



