2l8 



The Irish Naturalist 



December 



The Great Crested Grebe. 



This bird, to be seen on all our numerous lakelets in spring and summer, 

 leaves them in October, and is then noticed in large numbers on a sheltered 

 part of the main lake (Erne), but between iith and 24th November, it 

 disappears altogether till between the 2nd and 25th February, when it 

 returns. Such at least is my experience of several years. I presume it 

 goes to the coast. I wonder if any similar observations have been made 

 by others, or if the birds are in special numbers on the coast in December 

 and January. I mentioned the matter to the late Mr. Barrington, but 

 he appeared to have no special information. 



J. P. BURKITT. 



Enniskillen. 



The Sandwich Tern — a Correction. 



I have to tliank both the penetration and the courtesy of Mr. Robert 

 Warren for having drawn my attention to a mistaken statement made 

 by me in the November number of the Irish Naturalist, that the late 

 Mr. Barrington found " a new colony of the Sandwich Tern " in the course 

 of the present year. I had, indeed, received information to that effect 

 from my friend, Mr. G. R. Humphreys, to whom I am also much indebted 

 for many other facts of interest kindly communicated to me in connection 

 with Mr. Barrington's ornithological tours ; but Mr. Humphreys now 

 tells me that in this respect he had been under a misapprehension, and 

 that the colony of Sandwich Terns which Mr. Barrington visited during 

 the breeding season of 191 5 was one of those already known to exist. 

 Mr. Warren, whose inquiries have led to this matter being set right, had 

 very justly concluded that so interesting a fact as the discovery of a new 

 Irish breeding station of Sterna sandvicensis would have been communi- 

 cated to him in one of Mr, Barrington's letters written after the expeditions 

 of last summer. 



C. B. ^lOFFAT. 



Ballyhyland. Co. Wexford. 



Marten in Co, Kildare. 



Mr. W. H. J. Tyrell, of Ballindoolan, Co. Kildare, tells me that a 

 Marten Cat was trapped early in July last at Grange, Co. Kildare. It 

 was a male, and he put the age at about two years. The specimen has 

 been preserved for him by Mr. Williams, of Dame Street. 



Helen M. Metcalfe. 



Enfield, 



