44 



The Irish Ncituaalist. Fel)ruary, 1905. 



Little Auk at Portmarnock. 



On 27th November a live specimen of the Little Auk {Mergulus alle, 

 was picked up in a field at Portmarnock. It was in a very exhausted 

 condition, and had evidently been a long time without food. This 

 makes, as far as I am aware, the sixth occurrence for Co. Dublin ; 

 Mr. Ussher, in his " Birds of Ireland," records five. 



J. Trumbui.1,. 



Malahide. 



A White Water Rail. 



On 9th November, 1904, I was given a perfectly white Water-Rail 

 Rallus uquaticus)^ which had been shot the same day near Seaforde, Co. 

 Down, by Mr. Herbert M'Cammon. It was a most beautiful specimen, 

 being pure white in every part except the first primary of one wing, 

 which had a faint cloudy dark stain about the size of a sixpence. The 

 feet and legs were a very pale pinky-orange, but the bill was the usual 

 red colour. The bird was in splendid condition, was of large size, and 

 weighed 5^ ounces. The only previous Irish record of a similar Water- 

 Rail that I know of is that of Williams & Son {Zoologist, 1882, p. 74), but 

 a mottled one was shot near Newry, Co. Down, on 9th January, 1899, 

 and was preserved by Sheals. 



;33r Robert Pattkrson. 



Holy wood, Co. Down. 



NEWS GLEANINGS. 



Prof. Charles J. Patten, M.D., D.Sc. 



Our hearty congratulations to our contributor, Prof. C J. Patten, of 

 Shefiield, on whom the University of Dublin has conferred the degree of 

 Doctor of Science, in recognition of his researches in anatomy and 

 roology. 



Miss Jane Stephens, B.Sc. 



We are glad to announce the appointment of this talented zoologist as 

 Technical Assistant in the Dublin Museum. Miss Stephens has been 

 doing excellent temporary work for the past year in the collections of 

 marine invertebrates, and her accession to the post vacated by J. N. 

 Halbert on his promotion will greatly strengthen the Museum staff. 



