278 THE ZOOLOGIST 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



AVES. 



Grasshopper-Warbler (Locustella nsevia) near Laine, Co. Antrim. — 

 On May 23rd, 1902, while walking up the Keelyglen Burn, my atten- 

 tion was called to the unmistakable notes of a Grasshopper-Warbler ; 

 it seemed to be close to the river among some thick bushes, but on 

 approaching closer I discovered the bird sitting on the top of a furze- 

 bush among a thick tangle of brambles. I got very close to it, and lay 

 down, when it started its peculiar song, and kept moving its head 

 backwards and forwards. I watched it for a long time, during which 

 it sang at intervals ; the duration of each song, I should say, was fully 

 thirty seconds. When I rose it dropped down amongst the brambles, 

 and skulked away. On May 24th I spent over an hour watching and 

 listening to the Grasshopper-Warbler at Keelyglen. I had a good 

 opportunity of viewing it through glasses, although the wind was 

 strong, and it did not sing from the topmost branches, but always 

 kept a little lower down. I easily made out its spotted back and 

 breast, and peculiar shaped tail, and could follow the quick movemeut 

 of the beak and turning of the head to perfection. When alarmed it 

 flew to another clump of brambles, and after a short interval started 

 its ruling song again ; I timed one — I think a short one — as it only 

 lasted twenty-five seconds, the one previous being longer. Thompson 

 says : " It is probably a regular summer visitant to suitable localities 

 from north to south." I expect, from the peculiar skulking habits of 

 the bird, and from the want of observers, it is overlooked in this 

 locality. — W. C. Wright (Charlevoix, Marlborough Park, Belfast). 



Holboell's Redpoll in Ireland. — In November, 1894, an immature 

 female of this large — and, in my judgment, easily distinguishable 

 — species was shot on Achill Island, Ireland, and is now in the Baylis 

 collection. This is, I believe, the first instance on record of the 

 occurrence of Cannabina holboelli in Ireland. This specimen, which 

 has been certified by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, was exhibited by me at the 

 meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, October, 1901. — F. Coburn 

 (Holloway Head, Birmingham). 



