I905- 



Notes, 



263 



Occurrence of a Numb Ray in Dublin Bay. 



The Torpedo Fish {Torpedo iiobiliand) or Numb Ray, as it is locally 

 called by fishermen, is the only species of electric fish we possess in 

 Irish waters. It is rarely obtained, being really a southern species which 

 has extended its range northward as far as the British Islands. A 

 specimen was caught a few weeks ago in Dublin Bay by a trawler. The 

 spiracles were unfringed, and the colour of the back was of a reddi.sh 

 grey with a few darker spots scattered about here and there. It was a 

 female fish measuring 2 feet 9 inches in length and i foot 8 inches in 

 width. The weight was 25 lbs. 



R. F. SCHARFF. 



Dublin IVIuseum. 



Fox Shark in Sheep Haven, Co Donegal. 



The Rev. A G. Stuart, of Ballymore, Letterkenny, kindly sent me the 

 photograph of a large fish which was caught in a net by fishermen in 

 Sheep Haven. The forked tail, the upper branch of which is extrenieh 

 elongated, also the general shape of the body and pectoral fin 

 pointed clearly to the specimen belonging to the Fox Shark (Alopias 

 vulpes). The fish measured 15 feet to inches according to Mr. Stuart. 

 The largest Irish specimen hitherto recorded measured only 14 feet in 

 length. 



R. F. SCHARFF. 



Dublin Museum. 



Ornithological Notes from Londonderry. 



From reports I had received from time to time I had reason to believe 

 that the Grasshopper Warbler {Loais/ella nccvid) was a visitor to our dis- 

 trict, but it was only this year that I had the pleasure of seeing the bird, 

 and hearing its charactenstic song. Mr. Thos. Gibson found it last 

 May near his garden at Altnafoyle. within a mile of our city. 



A second Greenland Falcon {Falco canduatis) has turned up on the 

 Donegal coast. One was shot at Horn Head, and reported in the I/ ish 

 Naturalist. Another was shot at Glenties, about 25th October. I had 

 the pleasure of exanii-nng it. It was a mature female, in the beautiful 

 white plumage. 



The Shoveller {Spatula clypeata^ has increased 'cery much as a breeding 

 species at Lough Swilly of late years. Last spring fifteen nests were 

 found in one field on the slob-land near Inch. 



The Sheld-duck {Tadorna cormitd) also seems to be on the increase. 

 Larger numbers are now annually seen on Lough Swilly and Lough 

 Foyle. 



The Quail {Coturnix coviniunis), bred within a few miles of Derry in 

 1904 ; and again this 3'ear they were reported from the same place, and 

 from another locality. I think of late years the Quail has been a regular 



