42 



The Irish Nadiralist . 



February 



Icterine Warbler on Migration at Tuskar Light Station. 



At 7 o'clock a.m. on vSeptember 2nd last, Mr. Glanvillc, Principal 

 Lightkeeper, picked up a Warbler on the Tuskar Rock. He knew it 

 was strange to him, and he most carefully preserved it in spirit, pending 

 my return from Australia. On examining the specimen I did not find 

 it a difficult matter to make up my mind that it was an Icterine Warbler 

 {Hypolais icterina), but to be doubly sure I took it up to Tring Museum 

 and showed it to Dr. Hartert, who very kindly examined it, and confirmed 

 my diagnosis. This interesting species is the first of its kind, that I am 

 aware of, which has been procured from an Irish light -station, and it is 

 the second Irish specimen which has come to hand duly authenticated. 

 Fifty -nine years elapsed between the capture of these two Icterine 

 Warblers. I hope to publish details later on. My cordial thanks are 

 due to Mr. Glanville for sending me this bird. 



The University, Sheffield. 



C. J. Patten. 



Decrease of the Squirrel. 



The Squirrel, which arrived here for the first time in 1861,^ and reached 

 its maximum in numbers between 1895 and 1905, is gradually disappearing 

 — notably so within the past two years. This winter I only saw three 

 since September. Mr. C. B. Moffat has also noticed a great decrease in 

 Squirrels at his home in Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford. He writes that on 

 November 4th, 1901, he counted fort}^ in view at once — all on the ground 

 looking for fungi. In 1910, 1911, and 191 2 only one was seen by him 

 during three weeks in September, and in 191 3 (in October) only a single 

 Squirrel was noticed. At Fassaroe the decline is very marked. On the 

 other hand Squirrels are appearing for the first time in other parts of 

 Ireland, and in some localities have become so plentiful as to constitute 

 a pest — this is the case near Portlaw, Waterford. We can only speculate 

 as to the cause of their increase and disappearance — unfavourable seasons 

 disease, vermin, inter-breeding, food-supply, more numerous enemies. Sec, 

 suggest themselves — but at any rate the phenomenon is remarkable. 



The Vole plague in S.W. Scotland caused great alarm some ^'■ears ago, 

 but the little animals decreased as fast as they increased— and other 

 instances of a similar kind in the vegetable as well as the animal kingdom 

 can be mentioned. I can readily recall the dismay with which canal 

 companies regarded the rapid spread of Elodea canadensis in their water- 

 way's. Its decrease surprised everyone by its rapidity. Nature often 

 heals herself more effectually than the most drastic human remedies. 



Fassaroe, Bray. 



RiCHD. M. Barrington. 



1 See paper, by the writer, on " The introduction of the Squirrel into 

 Ireland." Proc. Roy. Dub. Soc, 1880. 



