190 



The Irish Naturalist, 



October, 



Dr. Coates of an infinite number of these specimens through which he 

 sailed during several days in the southern Atlantic Ocean, and which 

 appeared like birds' eggs and were mistaken for some Fucus. Thousands 

 of these objects were lying on the strand between Portrush and the White 

 Rocks, a distance of about two miles, on August 29th, more were left by 

 the tides on the three following days, also on the strand towards Port- 

 stewart, and Miss J. Stephens tells me that she observed many at Bally- 

 castle on August 30th. A strong northerly wind had been blowing for 

 some days and had apparently brought them in from the ocean. The 

 barnacles were ahve and mostly of large size, the capitulum of many of the 

 specimens having a length of 40 mm. and a breadth of nearly 35 mm. 

 L. fascicularis has a very wide distribution, having been recorded from 

 the N. and S. iVtlantic, N. and S. Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. 



Thompson ("Natural History of Ireland,"' vol. iv., London, 1856) 

 gives a few Irish localities for this species, and states that Mr. Hyndham 

 in 1 83 1 found it attached to Fucus vesiculosus and F. nodosus thrown 

 ashore (and quite fresh) at ]\Iagilligan and Portstewart, and subsequently 

 at the Giant's Causeway on both species of Fucus, as well as on the feathers 

 of sea-fowl. 



Farran ("Occurrence of the Floating Barnacle, Lepas fascicularis," 

 Ann. Rep. Fish., Ireland, 1902-03, Pt. ii., App. vii., 1905) refers to the 

 most exceptional occurrence of this barnacle in immense numbers off the 

 West Coast of Ireland during the quarterly cruise of the "Helga" in August, 

 1903. It would seem to be thrown ashore occasionally on the Atlantic 

 coasts of Ireland, though seldom in such numbers and of as large size as 

 during the last three days of August, 191 5. 



A. R. Nichols. 



National Museum, Dublin. 



Oblong Sunfish off Co. Cork. 



It may be of interest to record that a specimen of the Oblong Sunfish 

 {Orthagoriscus truncatus) was captured near Baltimore at the end of May 

 last. The fish was found on a beach at the Calves Islands and was brought 

 to Baltimore, whence it was sent by Mr. Hanlan, Customs officer, to the 

 British Museum, where it was identified. I did not see the fish myself, so 

 am only able to give the approximate length — 2ft. 6 ins. I am indebted 

 to Dr. Scharff for kindly advising me to publish this record. 



F. W. L. Keane. 



Baltimore, Co. Cork. 



Redshanks on Migration at Maidens Lighthouse. 



On Sunday night, August 15th, large numbers of Redshanks appeared 

 round the lantern of the ^Maidens Lighthouse. They frequently crossed 

 and recrossed the paths of the luminous beams with great velocity of 

 flight. Several struck the glass and then fluttered obliquely down to the 



