The Irish Naturalist. 
December, 
NOTES, 
ZOOLOGY. 
Trichoniscus vividus in Co. Kerry. 
Mr. A. W. Stelfox sent me several specimens of the Woodlouse, Tvi- 
choniscus vividus (Koch), taken by him in Kerry, S. Mr. Stelfox says : — 
" The first specimens were taken under a very rotten log near the bank 
of a small stream in the plantations of Burnham, Lord Ventry's demesne, 
on Dingle Harbour. Many other examples were seen here, but all under 
very rotten wood. These plantations are mainly artificial, but in some 
parts there is, I fancy, a foundation of native scrub. In them are many 
exotic shrubs, and no doubt some species of animals have been imported 
with these. In one area the presence of the snail Hygromia rufescens, 
gives proof of this." If T. vividus be native here — and there appears to 
be no reason why it should not be so — it is an interesting extension of its 
range. In the Britannic area it had previously only been known from 
south-east Ireland, having been recorded from the counties of Waterford, 
Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, and Queen's Co. 
Nevin H. Foster. 
Hillsborough, Co. DoAvn. 
The Death's-head Moth in Ulster. 
Although not common, the Death's-head Moth is well known in northern 
Ireland, and is regarded by the country folk with superstitious horror. I 
have not had the good fortune to have taken it myself, but more than one 
living specimen has been brought to me in former years. 
W. E. Hart, 
Kilderry, Co. Donegal. 
The Short-eared Owl. 
On September 17th I saw perched on a stack of oats in a field beside 
the road at Kilranelagh, Co. Wicklow, an owl, which from what I saw of 
it whilst driving past I believe to have been a Short-eared Owl. The 
general appearance of the bird was dark buff above, with heavy 
dark brown streaks and blotches ; the under parts were dull buff or 
yellowish, also streaked with dark brown, as was the facial disk and wings. 
The tufts on the head were quite short. I could not see the legs plainly, 
as, though the trap I was in was only going at a walk, I was not close 
enough to see them distinctly. Perhaps the above may be of sufficient 
interest to publish, as the Short -eared Owl is only a winter -visitor to 
Ireland, and I have never seen a specimen so early as the date on which 
I saw the bird mentioned. 
Helen M. Metcalfe. 
Enfield, Co. Kildare. 
Doubtless the bird seen by our corn spi nuUnt was a Short-eared Owl. 
This species, however, may be observed in some seasons as early as August, 
The Editors. 
