248 



The Irish Naturalist. 



November, 1905. 



Curious Accident to a Sand Martin. 



A few weeks ago, when poking about the rocks to the south of Donagh- 

 adee, I heard a fluttering as of some bird in difficulties. Following the 

 sound I soon saw on a large rock, facing the sea at an angle of about 

 seventy-five degrees, a bird caught in some way. Making my way to it, 

 I put my hand on the bird, which turned out to be a Sand Martin. 

 One of its feet, which b)' the way was deformed, and short of a toe, was 

 caught under a limpet, by no means a large one, but all the efforts of 

 the bird were of no avail to free itself, and without doubt it would have 

 been drowned when the tide came in, had I not happened on the spot, 

 forced the limpet off, and let the bird fly away. 



Hamii^ton McCi^eery. 



Belfast. 



Early Arrival of Eider Ducks. 



On Saturday, 19th August, 1905, I saw at Cultra Point two ducks 

 which, from their large size, heavy build, peculiar markings, and 

 characteristic shape of bill and head, I am quite sure were Eider 

 Ducks ; and subsequent reference to the plate in Dresser confirmed 

 my identification. On consulting that valuable and recent work 

 "The Birds of Ireland," I find Mr. Ussher says — "The Eider Duck 

 appears in Ireland only as a straggler on rare occasions, of which more 

 than thirty records are extant. These come from all sides of the island, 

 but most frequently from the north coast, especially Rathlin Island, 

 where Eiders have been shot on several occasions. It is only surprising 

 that they do not visit it more frequently, as the distance of Rathlin from 

 Islay — where the species breeds and is seen in large flocks — is less than 

 twenty miles. At Rathlin, Eider Ducks have been met with in April 

 and May, and once in September ; but the bird is not known to have 

 occurred on the main Irish coast before November, the month in which 

 it most frequently visits this country." Thus the above-noted occurrence 

 in Belfast Lough on 19th August appears to constitute an unusually 

 early record for Ireland. The only previous records from Belfast Ivough 

 are one shot off Greencastle in October, 1877, and two shot in February, 

 1890. 



R. I,I,OYD PaTTICRvSON. 



Holywood. Co. Down. 



Natterer's Bat in Co. Carlow. 



I have to record the capture here, in August last, of a Natterer's Bat, 



kindly identified for me by Dr. Scharff. As this bat has only been 

 recorded from about six different localities in Ireland its occurrence 



here is worth noting. I have also taken the lyong-eared Bat and the 

 Pipestrelle here at different times. 



Denis R. Pack-Beresford 



Fenagh House, Bagnalstown. 



