134 



The Irish Naturalist. 



June, 



ZOOLOGY. 



Notices of Irish Mollusca. 



The current (April) number of the lotirnal of Conchology contains a note 

 by Chas. Oldham on the findings of Vallonia excentrica, Sterki, at Morn- 

 ington, Co. Meath, by P. H. Grierson, and a note by R. Welch on fresh- 

 water shells in masses m shell-marl, and one by Miss Massy on the 

 opercula of Bythinia teniae ulaia. 



Birds of the Skelligs. 



One of the keepers of the Skelligs lighthouse (Mr. R. James) tells me 

 that in March last they shot three Greenland Falcons and saw a great 

 number of Little Auks round the rock. One of the Falcons was devour- 

 ing an Auk when it was shot. I believe the Falcons were sent to Messrs. 

 Williams, Dame-street. 



Maud J. Dei^ap. 



Valencia. 



White Wagtails at Bartragh, 



The White Wagtails {Motacilla alba) paid their usual spring visit to the 

 island during the prevalence of the fresh northerly winds of the three 

 weeks preceding May lo. They were first observed about the 25th April, 

 when four or five birds were seen at the usual haunt. These remained 

 all that week, and early the next were joined by others, making up the 

 number to eight, the entire flock remaining until the 6th May, when the 

 wind changing to the south, they left the island before 1 1 o'clock. How- 

 ever, to replace those, four others arrived that evening, and probably will 

 be joined by fresh arrivals if northerly winds prevail. 



Robert Warren. 



Moyview, Ballina. 



Corncrakes in Winter. 



In the Irish Naturalist for May Mr. R. Patterson notes the shooting of a 

 Corncrake near Lurgan on the 31st January, by a man who was attracted 

 by the sound of its craking. It is to be hoped that the specimen has 

 been preserved, for surely a Corncrake that has craked in January is 

 deserving of the highest position in the local museum. 



On the 19th February a Corncrake was seen by two gentlemen near 

 Belfast as it crossed the road before them— another strange time of year 

 for Corncrakes to be about— but then in explanation of their wanderings, 

 we are told (what is very evident) that neither of these birds were 

 hibernating This of course is quite satisfactory to those who believe in 

 the hibernating birds. 



Robert Warren. 



Moyview, Ballina 



