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THE  IRISH  NATURALIST 


TA    5ltontl)lY    Journal 

OF 

GENERAL     IRISH     NATURAL     HISTORY 

ORGAN   OF    THE 

Royal  Zoological   Society  of   Ireland ;     Dublin   Microscopical  Club 
Belfast     Naturalists'     Field     Club;       Dublin     Naturalists'     Field     Club 


EDITED     BY 

R.   LLOYD  PRAEGER,   B.E.,   D.Sc   M.R.LA. 
C.   B.    MOFFAT,   B.A.,   M.R.I  A. 

AND 

ROBERT  J.    WELCH,   M.Sc    M.R.LA 


VOL    XXXII. 


DUBLIN:    EASON    &    SON,   LIMITED, 

80  MIDDLE   ABBEY   STREET. 

BELFAST:     17   DONEGALL   STREET. 

LONDON  :    SIMPKIN,  MARSHALL.  HAMILTON.   KENT  &  CO..  LTD. 

1923. 


CONTRIBUTORS 

TO    THE    PRESENT    VOLUME 


Abbott,    W.  M.,    Fermuy. 

Armstrong,    Edward    A.,  Belfast 

Berry,   Basil   and   Patrick,  Newcastle,    Co.    Down. 

Blackwood.   G.  G.,  Dundee. 

Campbell,    D.    C,    Londondevrv. 

Carpenter    George    H.,    d.sc,   Manchester. 

Chase,   Corrie  D.,   Belfast. 

Dixon,  H.  N.,  f.l.s.,  Northainptoi'. 

Dovetox-Dunlop,   H.   W.,  Blackrock,   Co.   Dubliu. 

Farran,  G.  p.,  B.A.,    Du))lin. 

Foster,    Nevin   H.,    f.l.s.,    HilJsborongh. 

Greer,    Thomas,    Stewart«to.vn. 

H albert,    J.   N.,    Dublin. 

HiKCH,  J.    de    W.,  Dublin. 

Huggard,  Leslie,    Wexford. 

Humphreys.    George    E.,    Dublin. 

Irish  Naturalist,  An. 

Janson,   Oliver  E.,  London. 

Jeffei^s,   F.  W.,   Dublin. 

.Johnson.    Prof.    T.,   d.sc..    Dublin. 

Johnson,    Rev.  W.    F.,    m.a.,  Rostrevor. 

Kennedy.  A.   J.,    Tearaght   T.ighthouse,    Co^    Keiry. 

Lee,    William   A.,    m.d.,    Rock  Ferry,  Cheshire. 

Lilly,  C.  J.,  Limavady. 

Massy,    Annie    L.,   Eaily,    Co.  Dublin. 

Megaw,   Rev.   W.   R.,   Belfist. 

Moffat,   C.  B.,  b.a.,   Dublin. 

Morrison,   Robert   N.,   Ballynahinch. 

Mullin,   W.    J.,  Cookslown. 

Pack-Beresford.  Denis    R.,    Feuagh,    Co.    Carlow. 

Pack-Beresford,  R.    J.,    Athlone. 

Palmer,  John   A     S.,    DubUn. 

Phillips,    K.    C.  Joyce,    Cambridge. 

Phillips,   R.    A.,    Cork. 

Praeger,  R.    Lloyd,    d.sc-,    Dublin. 

SciiARFF.  R    F.,   PH.D.,   Bray. 

Smiles,   Aileen.    Belfast. 

Stelfox.   a.   W.,   Dublin. 

SwANSTON.  W..    Belfast 

ToRRENS.   D     S.,   Dublin. 

Watt,    Hugh   Boyd,    London. 

Wheldon,   J.    A. 

Wyse,    L.    H.    Bonaparte,  London. 


ILLUSTKATIONS. 

Sleeping-hole  of   Tree  Creeper   (Plate  I.)           .  .  To  face  page       1 

Ja^eph   Wright,   F.G.S.                   .             .             .  .  „        page    53 

Larva  of  Megasteruum  boletophagum     .            .  .  page  110 


INDEX. 


Abbott,  W.  M.  :  Homing  Instinct  in 
Swift,  76;  Migration  of  Swallows 
in.  South-east  Wexford,  40;  Sand- 
Avich  Terns  at  Rosslare,  Co.  Wex- 
ford,   30. 

Algal  Discoloration  of  Lough  Xeagh 
and   River  Barm,   89. 

Alpine   Flora.    Irish,    117. 

Armstrong,  Edward  A.  :  Shake- 
.speare's  "  Scamel,"  19;  Squirrel  in 
Ireland,    50. 

Aster  laeyis  at  Lougli  Neagh,  Co. 
Tyrone,    107. 

Beech  Fern  in  Co.   Cavan,  107. 

Beetle,    Hydruphihd,    Larva   of.    lUO. 

Belfast  Natural  History  and  Philoso- 
phical  Society,  4,   127. 

Belfast  Natural  History  Museum  and 
Art   Gallery.   18. 

lielfast  Naturahsts'  Field  Club.  5.  29, 
49,   64,   82,   103,   128. 

Berry,  Basil  and  Patrick :  Curious 
Sites    for    Robins'    Nests,    62. 

Birds :  Arrival  of  Spring  Migrants  in 
1923,  95;  At  Tearaght  Lighthouse, 
7;  British,  127;  Irish  Breeding.  51; 
Recent   Irish  Records,    31. 

Blackwood,  G.  G.  :  Beech  Fern  in  Co. 

Cavan,  107. 
Bonde,    C.    von.    (and   J.    D.    F.    Gil- 
christ) :      "  Practical      Zoology      for 
Medical   and  Junior   Students  "    (re- 
viewed), 18. 

Botany:  Contrast,  Ireland  and  Switz- 
erland, 97;  Notes  from  Cos.  Down 
and   Armagh,   96. 

Bryology,  Plea  for  Moss  Study,  114. 

Campbell,  D.  C.  :  Early  Flowers,  52 ; 
Stock-Dove  breeding  in  Co.  Derry, 
7. 

Carpenter,  George  H.  :  To  Readers  of 
the    "  Irish    Naturalist,"   3. 

Cattle,    Irish,    Origin    of,    65. 

Chase,  Corrie  D.  :  Down  and  Antrim 
Plants.    96. 

Chiffchaff,  Early  Arrival  in  Co. 
Down,  51. 

Christen,  Sydney  Mary,  nee  Thomp- 
son,  (Obituary),  108. 

Cole,  Grenville  A.  :  "  Memoir  and 
Map  of  Minerals  and  Mines  in  Ire- 
laud  "   (reviewed),   38. 


Colour-Variation       in       Cowslip       aii<l 

Primrose,    31. 
Cowslip,     Colour- Variation,    31  ;    Red, 

63. 
Cranberry    in   Glenasraole,    63. 

Daniel,  J.  Frank:  "  Elasmobranch 
Fishes  "    (reviewed),  47. 

Discoloration,  Algal,  se-j  Algal  Dis- 
coloration. 

Dixon,  H.  N.  :  Porotrichum  angusti- 
folium   in   Ireland,    45. 

Doveton-Dunlop,  H.  W.  :  Kingfisher 
at    Blackrock,    Co.    Dublin,    7. 

Dublin    Microscopical   Club.   29.  50. 

Dublin   Naturalists'    Field   Club,   92. 

Duck,  Tufted,  Comparison  of  eggs  and 
down    with   Pochard,    94. 

Dwerryhouse,  Arthur  Richard:  "  Tlie 
Glaciation  of  North-eastern  Ire- 
land." Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc, 
l.xxix,   part  3    (reviewed),  124. 

Entomology,    Co.    Waterford,    9;    Ros- 

trevor,  35. 
Erica    stricta    in    Antrim    and    Derry, 

32. 

Farran,  G.  P.  :  Rare  Fishes  in  Irisii 
Waters,  106. 

Field   Club,   new  Irish,  94. 

Fishes :  Elasmobranch,  47 ;  Rare,  in 
Irish    waters,    106. 

Flora.  Irish:  Alpine,  97,  117;  North- 
eastern,   108. 

Flowers:  Common  wild,  plea  for 
closer  investigation,  21;  Early,   52. 

Foster,  Nevin  H.  :  Arrival  of  Spring 
migrants  in  1923,  95;  Comparison 
of  eggs  and  down  of  Pochard  and 
Tufted  Duck,  94;  Early  arrival  of 
Chiffchaff  in  Co.  Down,  51;  Egg  of 
Fulmar  Petrel,  7;  Fox  in  Co. 
Down,  96;  Greenland  Wheatear  in 
Co.  Derry,  6;  Sleeping  habits  of 
Tree-creeper,  1  ;  Swifts  in  May, 
1923,  86;  Variation  in  size  of  eggs 
of  Little  Tern,   86. 

Fox:  in  Co.  Down,  96;  in  Co.  Tyrone, 
116. 

Fritillarv,  Pearl-bordered,  in  Ireland. 
91.    107. 

Fulmar   Petrel,    Egg,   7. 

Galium  sylvestre  in  Co.   Kerry,   116. 


VI 


Index. 


Gilchrist,  J.  D.  F.  and  C.  von 
Bonde:  "Practical  Zoology  for 
Medical  and  Junior  Students  "  (re- 
viewed), 18. 

Glaciation,   see  Ice  Age. 

Greer,  Thomas:  Aster  laevis  at  Lough 
Neagh,  Co.  Tyrone.  107;  Foxes  in 
Co.  Tyrone.  'll6;  Pearl-bordered 
Fritillary,    107. 

H[albert].  J.  X.:  Macrolepidoptera  of 
County    Tyrone,    42. 

Helicella  itala  L..  addition  to  Fauna 
of  Lambay,   87. 

Hinch,  J.  de  W.  :  "The  Glaciation 
of  North-eastern  Ireland,"  by 
Major  A.  E.  Dwerrvhouse  (review), 
1-2I. 

Hiiggai'd.  Leslie:  Eaven  in  Co.  Wex- 
ford,   40. 

Humph rey.'^,  George  R.  :  Malahide 
Tern    Colony,    87. 

Hydrophilidae,    109. 

Ice  Age  in  North  of  Ireland.  124. 
Ireland    and    Switzerland,    a    botanical 

contrast.    97.    117. 
Irish   Naturalist.    An :   The   Balance   of 

Nature,  113. 
"  Irish    Naturalist,"    To    Readers    of. 

3. 

Janson,  Oliver  E.,  and  L.  H.  Bona- 
parte Wyse  :  A  Fortnight's  Entomo- 
logy in   Co.  Waterford,  9. 

Jeffers,  F.  W.  :  Variation  in  size  of 
eggs   of   Lesser   Tern,   52. 

Johnson.  T.  :  Canon  Lett's  Irish 
Sphagna.  Determined  by  J.  A. 
AVheldon.    55. 

Johnson,  W.  F.  :  Entomological  notes 
from   Rostrevor,   35. 

Kennedy.    A.    J.  :    Birds    at    the   Teav- 

aght   lighthouse,    7. 
Kingfisher    at    Blackrock,    Co.    Dublin. 

7.  , 

Lee,  William  A,  :  Irish  Sphagna,  28. 
121. 

Lett,  Henry  William.  Sjihagna  collec- 
tion,  55. 

Lilly,   C.   J.  :   Early  flowers,   52. 

Macrolepidoptera    of     Count  v    Tyrone, 

42. 
!Massy.   A.   L.  :  Red   cow.'jlips,  63. 
Megasi<ernum      boletophagum.      Larva 

of,    109. 
Megaw,   W.    R.  :    Galium    sylvestre    in 

Co.      Derry,     116;     Plea     for     moss 

study,   114. 


Migrants,  Arrival  of  Spring,  1923, 
95. 

Minerals  and  mines  of  Ireland,  38. 

Moffat,  C.  B.  :  "Chronological  Hst 
of  British  Birds.  A  Supplement  to 
Bibliography  of  British  'Ornith- 
ologv."  Bv  H.  Kirke  Swann, 
F.Z.'S.  (review),  127;  Food  of  Irish 
Squirrel,  77;  Is  Squirrel  .a  native  of 
Ireland,  33;  Shakespeare's  "  Sca- 
mel,"  20;  Sleeping  habits  of  Tree- 
creeper,  30;  Study  of  common  Avild 
flowers,  plea  for  closer  investiga- 
tion, 21;   Swifts  in  May,   1923,   86. 

Morrison,  Robert  N.  :  Early  arrival  of 
Chiff-chaff   in  Co.  Down,' 51. 

Mosses,    Plea   for    study    of,    114. 

Mullin.  W.  J.:  Curious  sites  for 
Robins'    nests,    62. 


113. 


Nature,   Balance  of 
New    Irish   Field    Club, 
News  gleanings,  18. 
North-eastern    Flora, 


94. 


108. 


Obituary:  Christen,  Sydney  Mary, 
108;  Phillips.  William  H..  48; 
Wright,    Joseijh.    53. 

Pack-Beresford,  Denis  R.  :  Algal  dis- 
coloration of  Lough  Neagh  and 
Rivpr    Bann,    89.' 

Pack-Beresford,  R.  J.  :  Early  breed- 
ing of  Wood-pigeons,   43. 

Palmer,  John  A.  S.  :  Thracia  pubes- 
cens   near  Dublin,    8. 

Petrel,   Fulmar,   see  Fulmar. 

Phillij^s,  K.  C.  Joyce :  Larva  of  a 
hydrophilid  beetle,  Mega^ternum 
boletophagum,   109. 

Phillips.  R.  A.  :  Pearl-bordered  Fritil- 
lary   in   Ireland,    91. 

Plants:  Armagh,  96;  Down  and  An- 
trim. 96;  Ireland  and  Switzerland, 
a  contrast,    97. 

Pochard.  Comparison  of  eggs  and 
down   with    Tufted  Duck,  94. 

Porotrichum  angustifolium  in  Ireland, 
45. 

Praeger,  R.  Lloyd :  Colour-variation 
in  Cowslip  and  Primrose,  31  ;  Early 
flowers,  52;  Erica  stricta  in  Antrim 
and  Derrv,  32;  Ireland  and  Switz- 
erland,  a  botanical  contrast.  97; 
Joseph  Wrii^ht  (obituary).  53; 
"  Memoir  and  map  of  minerals  and 
mines  in  Ireland,  by  Grenville  A. 
Cole  (review),  38:  Thracia  pubescens 
near  Dublin,  8 ;  William  H.  Phil- 
lips   (obituary),   48. 


Index. 


vu 


Primrose,    Colour- variation,    31. 

Eaven  in  Co.   Wexford,  40. 

Recent   records   of   Irish  birds,    31. 

Eeviews  :  G.  A.  J.  Cole's  '^  Memoir 
of  minerals  and  mines  in  Ire- 
land," 38;  J.  F.  Daniel's  "  Elasmo- 
branch  Fishes."  47;  A.  E.  Dwerry- 
house's  "  Glaciation  of  North- 
eastern Ireland,"  124;  J.  D.  F. 
Gilchrist  and  C.  von  Bonde's 
"  Practical  Zoology  for  Medical  and 
Jmiior  Students,"  18;  H.  K. 
Swann's  "  Chronological  List  of 
British  Bu-ds,"  127;  Sylvanus 
Wear's  "  Second  Supplement  to 
Stewart  and  Corrv's  Flora  of  North- 
east of  Ireland," 'l08. 

Eobins.    Curious   sites   for   nests.   62. 

Eoute  Naturalists'  Field  Club,  94, 
105,    128. 

Eoyal  Irish  Academy  Fauna  and 
Flora   Committee,  85. 

Eoval  Zoological  Society.  64.  84. 

Eubia  peregrina  L.   on  Lambay,  88. 

Samphire,  Golden,  near  Eush.-  Co. 
Dublin,    88. 

"  Scamel."    Shakespeare's,    19,    20. 

Scharff,  E.  F.  :  "  Elasmobranch 
Fishes."  bv  J.  Frank  Daniel  (re- 
view),  47;  On  the  origin  of  Irish 
cattle,  65;  Squirrel  in  Ireland,  03; 
Stray  reflections  on  Irish  Alpine 
Flora.    117.' 

Sedge,  Hybrid,  new  to  Co.  Dublin, 
39. 

Shakespeare's  "  Scamel."  19.  20. 

Smiles,  Aileen :  Curious  sites  for 
Eobins'    nests,    62. 

Sphagna,   Irish,   28,    bo,   121. 

S(|uirrel  :  American  Grey,  in  Ireland, 
95;  Irish.  Food  of,  77;  Native  of 
Ireland,   33,   50,   63. 

Stelfox,  A.  W.  :  Botanical  notes  from 
Cos.  Down  and  Armagh,  96;  Cran- 
berry in  Glenasmole,  63;  Enemy  of 
"wireworm,  44;  Golden  Samphire 
near  Eush.  Co.  Dublin,  88;  Heli- 
cella  itala  L. ,  addition  to  Fauna  of 
Lambay,  87;  Hybrid  sedge  neAv  ^o 
Co.  Dublin.  39;  Eubia  peregrina  L. 
and  Tragopogon  porrifolius  L.  on 
Lambay,  88. 

Stewart  and  Corrv's  "  Flora  of  the 
North-east  of  Ireland":  Supple- 
ment,    etc.,    108. 


Stock-Dove  breeding  in  Co.  Derrv, 
7. 

Stoney,  C.  V.:  "  Eecent  Observations 
on  some  Irish  Breeding  Birds  " 
(noticed),  51. 

Swallows,  Migration,  in  South-east 
Wexford,    40. 

Swann,  H.  Kirke :  "A  Bibliography 
of  British  Ornithology.  Supple- 
ment. A  Chr^.nological  Ijist  of 
British  Birds  "    (reviewed),    127. 

Swanston,  W.  :  Tunny  stranded  at 
Castlerock,   116. 

Swifts:  Homing  Instinct,  76;  in  Mav, 
1923,    86. 

Switzerland  and  Ireland,  a  botanical 
contrast,   97,   117. 

Tern:  Lesser,  variation  in  size  of 
eggs,  52,  86;  Malahide  colony,  87; 
Sandwich,  at  Eosslare,  Co.  Wex- 
ford,   30. 

Tliracia   pubescens   near   Dublin,    8. 

Torrens,  D.  S.  :  '"  Practical  Zoology 
for  Medical  and  Junior  Students," 
by  J.  D.  F.  Gilchrist,  and  (".  von 
Bonde    (reviev/),    18. 

Tragopogon  jiorrifolius  L.  on  Lambav, 
88. 

Tree-creeper,  Sleeping  habits  of.  ], 
30.  ' 

Tmmy    stranded    at    Castlerock,    116. 

Ulster  Society  for  the  Protection  of 
Birds,  48. 

Watt.  Hugh  Boyd :  American  Grey 
Squirrel   in  Ireland,   95. 

Wear,  Sylvanus :  Second  Supplement 
to,  and  summary  of  Stewart  and 
Corry's  Flora  of  the  North-east  of 
Ireland,  with  introd.  by  E.  LI. 
Praeger    (review),   108. 

Wheatear.  Greenland,  in  Co.  Derry, 
6. 

"Wheldon,  J.  A.  :  Canon  Lett's  Irish 
Sphagna,    55. 

Wireworm,    Enemy    of,    44. 

Wood-pigeons,    Early   breeding.    43. 

Wright.    Joseph     (obituary),    53. 

Wyse,  L.  H.  Bonaparte,  (and  Janson, 
Oliver  E. )  :  A  Fortnight's  Entomo- 
logy in  Co.    Waterford,  9. 

Zoology,    Practical,    for   students,    18. 


Irish  Naturalist,  Vol.  xxxii. 


Plate  I. 


Photo  R.  P.  Hatch. 

Sleeping  Hole  of  Tree-Creeper. 


3tljB  IrtBlj  Jiaturalist, 


VOLUME     XXXII. 

THE    SLEEPING    HABITS    OF   THE 
TREE-CREEPER. 

BY   NEVIN   H.    FOSTER,    F.L.S.,    M.R.I.A. 

PLATE   I. 

A  SHORT  time  ago,  Mr.  A.  C.  Da  vies  of  Lenaderg,  Co.  Down, 
informed  me  that  he  had  been  observing  the  sleeping 
habits  of  the  Tree-Creeper,  Certhia  familiar  is,  in  his 
neighbourhood.  His  observations  showed  that  these  birds 
excavated  holes  in  the  bark  of  Sequoia  (Wellingtonia) 
gigantea  into  which  they  crept  at  nightfall  and  there 
spent  the  hours  of  darkness,  their  backs  being  approximately 
on  a  level  with  the  surface  of  the  tree's  bark,  and  their 
beaks  pointing  straight  upwards.  Presumably  the  birds 
take  hold  with  the  claws  of  their  feet,  and  are  assisted 
in  maintaining  their  position  by  means  of  the  distal  ends 
of  the  stiff  tail  feathers  being  pressed  against  the  bark, 
as  obtains  when  these  birds  are  climbing  tree-trunks  or 
branches  in  pursuit  of  food.  The  bark  of  this  tree  is  soft 
and  fibrous  in  texture,  and  hence  it  proves  a  task  of  Httle 
difficulty  for  the  birds  to  excavate  these  sleeping-chambers. 
An  examination  of  some  twenty  trees  of  this  species 
which  are  growing  here  (all  situate  in  an  area  of  about 
8  acres,  the  distance  between  the  two  furthest  apart  being 


2  The  Irish  Naturalist,  January, 

almost  300  yards)  shows  that  almost  all  of  them  bear  one 
or  more  of  these  sleeping-holes  (in  one  case  eight)  at  heights 
varying  from  4  to  12  feet  above  the  ground  level,  and  it 
may  be  that  others  would  be  found  at  higher  elevations. 
There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  uniformity  in  the  location 
of  these  holes  in  respect  to  outlook,  as  they  are  to  be  found 
facing  every  point  of  the  compass.  Some  of  the  holes 
examined  appear  of  old  standing  and  not  to  have  been 
recently  used,  but  others  are  evidently  quite  fresh  and 
their  occupation  is  marked  by  a  few  breast  feathers  adhering 
to  the  bark  round  the  edges,  and  by  the  deposition  of 
faeces  immediately  beneath  each  hole.  The  latter  can  be 
clearly  seen  in  the  photograph  [Plate  L] .  As  will  be  observed, 
the  surface  of  the  bark  is  very  uneven — deep  furrows 
separating  the  longitudinal  ridges — so  that  in  these  trees 
the  thickness  of  the  bark  varies  from  about  i|  to  4  inches, 
and  in  spots  probably  even  more.  The  bark  thickness 
in  Californian  trees  is  said  to  be  from  one  to  two  feet. 
The  halfpenny  (one  inch  diameter)  indicates  the  size  of 
the  sleeping-hole,  beside  which  it  was  placed  for  this  purpose. 

There  are  also  growing  here  two  tiees  of  Sequoia 
sempervirens,  but  in  these,  though  the  bark  is  of  similar 
texture,  none  of  the  sleeping-holes  could  be  found. 
Perhaps  this  may  be  accounted  for  by  reason  of  their 
trunks  being  branch-clothed  down  to  the  ground,  whereas, 
as  a  rule,  there  are  no  branches  on  5.  gigantea  lower  than 
about  8  feet. 

The  Tree-Creeper,  though  nowhere  numerous,  is  a 
common  species  throughout  Ireland  where  trees  occur, 
and  doubtless  the  twenty  Hillsborough  trees  afford  sufficient 
sleeping  accommodation  for  the  birds  resident  in  the  district. 
But  the  question  suggests  itself  : — in  districts  where  there 
are  no  Sequoias — and  I  presume  these  trees  are  only  to 
be  found  sparingly  in  this  country — where  do  the  Tree- 
Creepers  spend  their  nights  ? 

Hillsborougli,  Co.   Down. 


1923-    Carpenter. — To  Readers  of  The  '-'  Irish  Natityalist.'"      3 

TO    READERS    OE    THE    IRISH    NATURALIST, 

Having  served  as  one  of  the  Editors  of  this  Magazine 
since  its  foundation  in  1892,  I  desire  on  my  withdrawal 
(due  to  retirement  from  the  Royal  College  of  Science  for 
Ireland  at  the  end  of  the  year  1922)  to  bid  farewell 
to  the  contributors  and  readers  whose  support  and  co- 
operation has  made  the  work  a  privilege  and  a  pleasure. 
The  Irish  Naturalist  has  provided  a  bond  of  union  between 
students  of  nature  and  societies  of  nature-lovers  in  all 
parts  of  the  country,  and  its  thirty-one  completed  volumes 
contain  many  papers  of  permanent  value  to  biological 
and  geological  science.  To  have  been  granted  participation 
in  such  work  is  truly  cause  for  thankfulness. 

During  the  past  few  years,-  the  Magazine  has  passed 
through  troublous  times,  but  the  testimony  to  its  value 
shown  by  the  friendly  and  ungrudging  help  of  its  supporters 
has  been  an  added  encouragement  to  those  responsible 
for  its  management.  Personally  I  wish  to  thank  most 
heartily  the  friends  who  have  faithfully  stood  by  the  Irish 
Naturalist  through  the  recent  period  of  danger  and  trial. 
We  may  hope  tha.t  the  worst  of  the  difficulties  are  now 
over,  and  that  the  Magazine  may  serve  as  an  enlightening 
and  unifying  influence  in  the  new  conditions  on  which 
Ireland  is  entering. 

Supporters  of  the  Magazine  will  notice  with  hearty 
satisfaction  that  the  vacancy  on  the  editorial  staff  is  filled 
by  that  talented  and  ardent  naturalist,  C.  B.  Moffat,  whose 
articles  on  varied  aspects  of  science  have  been  among 
the  most  valuable  and  attractive  contributions  made  to 
our  pages. 

The  editorship  in  which  I  have  for  so  long  been  permitted 
to  continue  has  afforded  opportunity  for  welcome  friend- 
ship as  well  as  for  scientific  effort.  To  colleagues  and 
helpers  I  would  offer  assurance  of  grateful  remembrance 
and  heartfelt  wishes  for  continued  and  increasing  success. 

Geo.  H.  Carpenter. 

Dublin,  December,   1922. 


The  Irish  Naturalist.  January, 


IRISH    SOCIETIES. 

BELFAST  NATURAL  HISTORY  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL 

SOCIETY. 

October  3i. — ^Ir.  Henry  Riddell,  M.E.,  delivered  his  presidential 
address  to  tiie  members  of  the  Society,  in  the  old  Museum,  College  Square 
North.  His  subject  was  a  review  of  the  work  and  personnel  of  the  Society 
since  its  foundation  just  over  loo  years  ago.  The  address,  which  was 
listened  to  throughout  with  close  attention,  was  illustrated  by  numerous 
lantern  slides. 

The  President  said  that  his  information  was  derived  from  minutes 
and  proceedings  of  the  Society,  and  for  the  greater  part  of  the  facts  he 
was  indebted  to  the  secretary,  Mr.  Deane,  who  had  ransacked  a  century's 
papers,  and  without  whose  labours  it  would  have  been  practically  impossible 
to  complete  the  centenary  volume,  a  prospectus  of  which  would  shortly 
be  issued.  It  was  on  Tuesday,  8th  June,  1821,  that  eight  men,  anxious 
to  promote  the  study  of  natural  history,  met  in  the  house  of  Dr.  Jas. 
L.  Drummond,  at  5,  Chichester  Street,  and  formed  the  Society.  These 
were — Dr.  Drummond  (President),  Jas.  McAdam  (Vice-President),  Robert 
Patterson,  George  C.  Hyndman,  James  Grimshaw,  Robert  Simms,  Wm. 
McClure,  and  Francis  Archer".  They  were  all  young  and  energetic,  the 
two  youngest  being  nineteen  and  twenty,  while  the  oldest  was  only  thirty- 
one.  The  Society  steadily  grew,  and  in  1827  the  need  of  better  accommo- 
dation was  felt,  and  it  was  determined  to  embark  on  a  bold  scheme  and 
build  a  home  for  themselves.  Belfast  at  that  time  was  a  small  town, 
but  the  community  was  most  enterprising,  generous,  and  public  spirited. 
Ultimately,  the  building  in  which  they  met  that  night  was  erected,  the 
foundation-stone  of  the  ^luseum  being  laid  by  the  Marquis  of  Donegal 
on  4th  May,  1830.  The  President  then  showed  on  the  screen  specimens 
from  the  Museum  collections,  with  a  view  to  drawing  attention  to  the 
value  and  unique  interest  of  the  ethnographical  objects  which,  he  said, 
were  at  present  inaccessible  to  students  or  to  the  general  public.  He 
wished  to  emphasise  this  point  very  strongly,  and  hoped  that  the  Corpora- 
tion would  be  able  to  accommodate  the  collections  in  their  new  museum. 
In  modern  times  people  were  too  busy  to  take  the  same  active  interest 
in  the  .work  of  the  Society  as  they  did  in  the  times  with  which  he  had 
dealt.  The  Council  of  the  Society  had  now  in  most  cases  to  content 
themselves  with  bringing  before  the  members  the  latest  thought  or  the 
newest  discovery,  and  in  doing  so  they  played  a  most  important  part 
in  the  education  and  development  of  the  instinct  for  science  which  was 
seldom  absent  in  their   fellow-citizens. 

On  the  motion  of  Colonel  Sinclair,  C.B.,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
passed  to  the  President. 


1923.  Irish  Societies.  5 

BELFAST  NATURALISTS'  FIELD  CLUB. 

October  24. — The  President  (Rev.  W.  R.  Megaw,  13. A.)  gave  his 
inaugural  address,  the  title  of  his  subject  being  '^  In  the  Heart  of  the 
Country."  The  average  countryman's  ignorance  of  common  wild  flowers 
and  birds  was  shown  by  examples  of  the  confusion  which  reigns  in  his 
mind  concerning  the  commonest  denizens  of  the  field.  Only  a  very  few 
of  our  resident  birds  are  named  accurately,  and  the  native  flora,  with 
a  few  exceptions,  are  weeds  without  any  attempt  at  distinction.  Little 
more  than  one-third  of  our  native  grasses  receive  the  scant  attention 
of  a  local  name  ;  to  say  that  there  are  over  sixty  species  in  our  three 
north-east  counties  is  to  run  the  risk  of  being  thought  a  fool.  The  forty 
sedges  of  the  same  area  are  either  not  seen  at  all  or  relegated  to  the 
obscurity  of  unknown  grasses.  The  lecturer  mentioned  some  peculiar 
and  amusing  theories  found  in  the  heart  of  the  country  regarding  sex 
differences  in  plants,  and  the  turning  of  certain  plants  into  others  more 
or  less  similar  in  appearance.  Medicinal  uses  of  herbs  was  discussed, 
and  the  modus  operandi  explained.  Nature's  strange  moods,  her  freaks, 
her  fancies,  her  kindness  and  severity  were  commented  upon  and  illustrated. 
Extracts  from  the  diary  of  an  amateur  naturalist  were  read,  pourtraying 
wild  life  in  strange  and  varied  circumstances.  The  lecturer  concluded 
by  giving  examples  of  country  superstitions  regarding  plants  and  their 
potent  properties.  The  address  was  freely  illustrated  by  a  series  of 
fine  lantern  views,  especially  a  set  of  twenty  showing  the  four  seasons  of 
the  year.  In  the  subsequent  discussion  the  following  members  took 
part  : — N.  H.  Foster  ;  R.  J.  Welch,  and  S.  A.  Bennett.  Two  junior 
and   thirteen   ordinary   members   were   elected. 

November  21. — W.  A.  Green  read  a  paper  entitled  "  The  Kingdom 
of  Mourne,"  which  dealt  fully  with  the  history,  archaeology,  and  geology 
of  the  Mourne  [Mountains  and  their  vicinity.  In  the  discussion  which 
ensued,  R.  J.  Welch,  J.  Holness,  and  J.  A.  S.  Stendall  took  part.  Three 
ordinary    meml^ers   and    one   junior    member   were    elected. 

December  19. — Prof.  Gregg  Wilson,  M.A..  D.Sc,  lectured  on  "  The 
Life-history  of  a  Fish." 

The  lecturer  said  it  was  extraordinary  that  so  little  is  known  of  the 
Hfe  of  the  fishes  that  abound  in  the  waters  all  round  us.  It  was  not 
till  as  late  as  1864  that  the  great  fact  was  discovered  that  most  of  our 
fishes  produce  eggs  that  drift  about  in  the  surface  waters.  Even  yet 
there  is  much  to  be  made  out  as  to  the  wanderings  of  some  of  our  most 
important  types.  For  long  it  was  generally  beheved  that  fishes  spawned 
in  waters  close  to  the  shore,  and  that  the  spawn  was  actually  secured  to 
weeds  or  gravel  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  It  is  now  known  that  spawning 
is  largely  offshore,  and  that  the  eggs  and  larvae  may  drift  many  miles 
before  the  young  fishes  are  able  to  care  for  themselves.  The  number 
of  eggs  produced  by  fishes  is  often  enormous,  amounting  in  some  cases 
to  ten  or  even  twenty  milhons.  But  those  fishes  that  take  most  care 
of  their  eggs  seem  to  require  to  produce  fewer  than  their  neighbours. 


6  The  Irish  Naturalist.  January, 

The  time  required  for  halcliing  out  also  varies  enormously — from  a  few 
days  or  a  few  weeks,  to  live  months  or  more  in  the  case  of  such  fishes  as 
skates,  which  have  large  eggs  with  much  stored  food.  The  newly-hatched 
fishes  are  usually  utterly  unlike  their  parents,  and  are  often  protected 
by  being  quite  transparent.  They  abound  in  surface  waters  and  feed 
on  the  microscopic  organisms  tha.t  exist  there.  As  both  eggs  and  larvae 
are  at  the  mercy  of  currents  the  drift  of  the  waters  is  of  great  interest, 
and  study  of  this  subject  has  brought  home  to  us  the  fact  that  no  district 
is  independent  of  its  neighbours.  That  is  the  justification  for  an 
international  scheme  of  fishery  research.  The  rate  of  growth  of  fishes 
has  been  much  studied  of  late.  It  is  of  great  interest  to  find  that  the 
shoals  that  frequent  certain  coasts  are  largely  composed  of  fish  of  one 
age  ;  year  after  year  young  recruits  appear  to  take  the  place  of  the  older 
fish,  which  pass  on  to  new  territory.  The  migrations  of  fishes  are  as 
interesting  and  as  mysterious  as  those  of  birds.  One  fact  stands  out 
clear — namely,  that  the  spawning  migrants  tend  to  swim  against  the 
currents  to  regain  the  position  lost  by  the  drifting  eggs  or  larvae.  Perhaps 
the  most  remarkable  illustration  of  this  is  found  in  the  behaviour  of  the 
Eels,  which  swim  thousands  of  miles  to  deposit  their  eggs  in  waters  whose 
slow  drift  brings  the  young  Eel  to  our  shores  after-  a  journey  that  occupies 
years.  As  fishes  have  many  enemies,  they  also  have  many  protective 
devices.  Colour  adaptations  and  mimicry  plaj''  no  small  part  in  securing 
freedom  from  attack.  Spines,  and  in  some  cases  poisonous  secretions 
associated  with  spines,  are  also  valuable  safeguards. 

A  discussion  took  place,  in  which  the  following  took  part  : — -The 
President  (Rev.  W.  R,  Megaw,  B.A.)  ;  R,  S,  Slipper,  M.A,  ;  J.  McCaw, 
B.A.  ;  J,  J.  Holness  ;  and  R,  J.  Welch,  M.R.I. A.  With  the  election 
of  one  junior  and  ten  ordinary  members  the  proceedings  closed. 


NOTES, 

ZOOLOGY. 

Greenland  Wheatear  in  Co.  Derry. 

On  2ist  October,  1922,  a  Wheatear  was  shot  at  Maghera,  Co.  Derry, 
The  bird  on  dissection  proved  a  female,  and  having  a  wing  measurement 
of  iipwards  of  100  mm,  it  belongs  to  the  large  (Greenland)  race  [CEnanthe 
{snanthe  leucorrhoa  (Gmel.)).  I  have  to  thank  Dr.  N.  F.  Ticehurst,  who 
Idndly  examined  the  specimen  and  confirmed  my  diagnosis.  He  says 
"  for  a  female  this  (wing  measurement)  is  alone  conclusive,  but  in 
addition  the  big  tarsi  and  the  amount  of  black  on  the  outer  tail  feathers 
are  quite  confirmatory." 

Nevin  H.  Foster. 
Hillsborough,  Co.  Down. 


1923'  "  Irish  Societies. 


Egg  of  Fulmar  Petrel. 

Referring  to  oNIr.  J.  A.  Sidney  Stendall's  note  on  an  Irish  egg  of  the 
Fuhiiar  Petrel,  Fithnarus  glacialis  Linn,  (page  96  ante),  I  have  examined 
an  egg  taken  in  Co.  Donegal  on  29th  May,  1922.  This  egg  is  of  normal 
size,    measuring   73  x  48   mm. 

Nevin  H.  Foster. 
Hillsborough,  Co.  Down. 


Birds  at  the  Tearaght  Lighthouse. 

We  had  a  visit  on  the  Tearaght  Rock  from  the  Red-necked  Phalarope 
on  the  ist  October  ;  it  remained  with  us  for  about  fifteen  minutes  when 
it  was  chased  by  the  Rock  Pipits.  It  took  to  the  sea  on  the  south  side. 
This  is  the  first  visit  from  this  bird  noted.  We  also  had  the  Black  Red- 
start and  Redstart,  two  Grey  Phalaropes,  one  Woodcock,  five  Goldfinches, 
and  various  other  common  birds  on  the  26th  October.  For  some  time  past 
we  have  had  the  Goshav/k  (I  informed  Mr.  R.  F.  Ruttledge  of  Hollymount, 
]\Iayo)  ;  it  re-appeared  at  the  end  of  October  and  is  still  on  the  rock. 
The  habits  of  this  bird  are  most  interesting.  We  have  an  aerial  wire 
Irom  one  side  of  the  cliff  to  the  other.  Every  evening  about  sunset 
the  bird  tries  to  alight  on  this  wire.  This  wire  is  greased,  and  the  bird 
is  unable  to  perch.  The  Choughs  rest  for  the  night  near  the  dwelling- 
house  on  the  side  of  the  cliff  ;  the  Goshawk  rests  among  them  for  the 
night.  It  is  no  trouble  to  it  to  kill  rabbits  and  we  have  watched  it  put 
up  some  fierce   fights  with   Peregrines. 

A.   J.   Kennedy. 
Tearaght  Rock,  Co.   Kerry. 


Kingfisher  at  Biackrock,  Co.  Dublin. 

It  may  interest  readers  to  know  that  a  few  days  ago  I  flushed 
a  Kingfisher  in  a  bush  overhanging  a  dry  pond  in  Biackrock  public  park. 
My  little  daughter  of  ten  was  with  me,  so  I  asked  her  to  watch  as  I  had 
marked  the  bird  down.  I  flushed  it  again  and  it  flew  over  her  head  and 
she  saw  the  brilliant  blue  of  its  back  and  the  ruddy  brown  characteristic 
of  this   lovely  little   bird. 

H.    W.    DOVETON-DUNLOP. 

Biackrock. 


Stock-Dove  breeding  in  Co.  Londonderry. 

On  15th  June,  1921,  Mr.  W.  G.  Byron  found  two  nests  of  llic  Stock- 
dove in  rabbit-holes  in  the  sand-hills  near  Castlerock,  Co.  Derry. 

Londonderry.  D-  C.  Campbell. 


8  The  Irish  Naturalist.  January,  1923 

Thracia  pubescens  near  Dublin. 

While  exploring  the  South  Bull  in  Dublin  Bay  recently  I  picked  up 
a  single  valve  of  Thracia  pubescens.  Mr.  A.  R.  Nichols  and  Dr.  R.  LI. 
Praeger  were  kind  enough  to  examine  it,  and  apparently  it  is  a  fossil 
shell,  but  rarely  found  in  Ireland.  Birterbuy  Bay  appears  to  be  the  only 
spot  on  the  Irish  coa^t  where  a  live  specimen  had  been  found. 

Dublin.  John  A.  S.  Palmer. 


Mr.  Palmer's  finding  of  Thracia  pubescens  in  Dublin  Bay  is  very 
interesting.  The  Irish  records  are  very  few  (see  Nichols,  "  Marine 
Mollusca  of  Ireland,"  Proc.  R.  I.  Acad.,  1900)  and  may  be  grouped  as 
Belfast  Lough,  Dublin  Bay,  Cork  Harbour,  and  Birterbuy  Bay  in 
Connemara.  Of  these,  the  only  station  where  living  specimens  were  certainly 
obtained  is  Birterbuy  Bay  (a  fine  specimen  in  Dublin  Museum).  The 
Belfast  specimens  were  undoubtedly  fossil  :  the  Turbot  Bank  is  a  famous 
deposit  of  fossil  shells  :  Grainger  obtained  it  in  the  Belfast  Estuarine 
Clays,  and  myself  in  the  similar  deposits  in  Larne  Lough,  The  Cork 
records  are  so  far  as  I  know  unsupported  by  specimens,  and  it  is  not  stated 
whether  the  speciinens  were  recent.  But  as  the  species  lives  in  Connemara 
it  may  well  do  so  at  Cork.  The  only  Dublin  record  is  very  vague ; — "  Near 
Dublin,  Mr.  Warren"  (Thompson,  vol.  iv.)  The  British  distribution  is 
very  restricted — the  south-western  coast  only  :  but  in  his  "  Additions 
to  British  Conchology  "  (Journ.  of  Conch,  viii  and  xiv),  Mr.  Marshall 
unexpectedly  adds  a  few  Scottish  records  which  seem  more  or  less 
doubtful.  The  foreign  range  is  exclusively  southern,  extending  from 
Britain   along   the   Mediterranean   and   south    to   the    Canaries. 

The  species  is  then  clearly  one  of  the  southern  forms  which  flourished 
as  far  north  as  the  Ulster  coast  during  the  Neolithic  climatic  optimum 
(to  which  the  Belfast  and  Larne  Clays  belong),  but  which  has  since 
retreated  to  the  slightly  warmer  waters  of  the  west  and  south  coasts. 
Mr.  Palmer's  valve  is  I  think  certainly  fossil  :  no  trace  of  the  ligament 
remains,  and  the  shell  is  blackened  and  opaque — not  nearly  so  fresh 
in  appearance,  indeed,  as  the  Larne  fossil.  Its  past  and  present  range 
is  paralleled  by  that  of  Gastrana  fragilis,  found  fossil  in  Neolithic  clays 
at  Downpatrick  and  Clontarf,  and  still  living  on  the  west  and  south  coasts 
of  Ireland,  south-western  England  and  thence  on  to  the  far  end  of  the 
Mediterranean. 

The  Shetland  record  (Forbes,  Brit.  Assoc.  1850)  and  the  single  valve 
from  Drontheim  (Jeffreys,  vol.  ii.,  p,  368),  as  well  as  the  single  valve  from 
Campbelltown  and  other  Scottish  records,  I  would  be  inclined  to  refer 
to  fossil  relics  of  the  Neolithic  fa^inia.  There  is  a  Greenland  record  which 
seems   more   than   doubtful. 

R.  Lloyd  Praeger. 
Dublin. 


February,  1923.  The  Irish  Naturalist.  9 

A    FORTNIGHT'S    ENTOMOLOGY 
IN    CO.    WATERFORD. 

BY   OLIVER   E.    JANSON,    F.E.S.,    AND    L.H.    BONAPARTE    WYSE. 

Having  spent  a  pleasant  holiday  collecting  insects  in 
Kerry,  chiefly  in  the  Killarney  district,  in  June,  igig,  of 
which  we  published  an  account  in  the  Irish  Naturalist,^ 
we  were  desirous  of  resuming  our  activities  there  the 
following  season,  but  the  troubled  state  of  affairs  in  the 
South  of  Ireland  rather  discouraged  us,  and  the  projected 
trip  was  postponed  indefinitely.  This  year,  however,  we 
decided  to  take  our  courage  in  both  hands,  and  havmg 
received  reassuring  letters  from  correspondents  in  Ireland, 
our  minds  were  soon  made  up.  But  instead  of  returning 
to  Kerry,  we  proposed  breaking  new  ground  and  visiting 
Waterford  and  Lismore,  which  had  the  merit  in  our  eyes  of 
being  comparatively  little  worked.  And  here  it  may  be 
remarked,  that  all  our  fears  of  disagreeable  incidents  were 
happily  without  foundation,  that  during  our  brief  visit  we 
met  with  unfailing  court es}^  from  all  with  whom  we  came 
into  contact,  though  towards  the  end  of  the  second  week 
of  our  stay  the  political  situation  had  already  assumed 
such  a  menacing  aspect  that  we  thought  it  prudent  to 
return  home  without  further  delay.  Under  more  normal 
conditions  we  should  have  Uked  to  have  stopped  on  a  week 
or  two  longer. 

We  left  London  on  the  evening  of  June  23rd,  taking 
train  from  Paddington  to  Fishguard,  and  from  thence  by 
steamer  direct  to  Waterford,  which  we  reached  early  next 
morning.  We  soon  found  suitable  accommodation  at  the 
Adelphi  Hotel,  and  after  a  wash  and  a  good  breakfast, 
we  set  out  immediately  for  Milepost,  a  long  Irish  mile 
north  of  Waterford.  The  weather  was  overcast,  but  the 
general  duhiess  was  relieved  by  occasional  gleams  of  sun- 
shine, and  we  were  full  of  hope  of  seeing  that  local  butterfly 
the  Greasy  Fritillary  [Melitcea  artemis)  in  its  native  haunts  ; 
but,    although    we    spent    much    time    tramping    up  and 

1  Vol.   xxix.  pp.  1-6,  61-64. 

A 


fo  The  Irish  Naturalist.  February, 

down  the  limited  extent  of  marshy  ground  on  which  one 

of  us  first  met  with  it  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  this 

most  interesting  of  Irish  butterflies  failed  to   gladden  us 

with  its  presence.     This  may  have  been  due  to  the  weather 

or  perhaps  to  the  complete  clearance  within  recent  years 

of  an  extensive  fir-plantation  which  sheltered  the  locality 

from  the  north  wind.     After  our  fruitless  search,  we  thought 

it  more  profitable  to  divert  our  attention  to  the  coleoptera, 

and  by  looking  under  stones  and  sweeping  various  plants, 

several  common  species  were  obtained,  of  which  perhaps 

the     best     were — Taphria     nivalis,     Oxypoda     longiuscula, 

Actohius  cinerascens,  Stenus  flavipes,  S.  bifoveolatus,  Cercus 

rufilahris,  etc.     Next  day  being  Sunday,  little  work  was 

done,  but  in  the  m_orning  a  visit  was  paid  to  Roanmxore, 

the  old  home  of  the  Wyse  family,  and  in  the  demesne  the 

only  noteworthy  capture  was  a  specimen  of  the  handsome 

Shield-bug  Pentatorna  prasina.      In  the  afternoon  we  went 

to   Tramore   and   called  upon   Captain   W.    Penrose,   who 

made  us  stay  to  tea  and  promised  us  letters  of  introduction 

to  the  Dean  of  Lismore  and  to  the  agent  of  the  Duke  of 

Devonshire  to  view  the  famous  old  castle.     On  Monday, 

June    26th,   we   commenced   work   in   earnest,   and   spent 

the   whole   day   collecting   on    Kilbarry   marshes    in    close 

proximity    to    Wateriord    City.     The    weather    was    fairly 

sunny,  and  a  good  many  beetles  were  taken  of  which  the 

following  may   be   enumerated  :     Anchomenus  marginaius, 

A.    vidutis,    Bemhidiuni   aeneum,    Hydroponis   vittula,    Och- 

thebius  pygmcsus,  0.  hicolon,  Gnypeta  lahilis,  Tachyusa  atra, 

Stenus    incrassatus,    S.    canaliculatus,    Adalia    hipunciata, 

Donacia  simplex,  Chrysometa  polita.     Two  visits  were  paid 

to  the  sandhills  near  Tramore,  on  the  27th  and  30th,  and 

numerous  beetles  were  taken  or  observed.     We  found  the 

sea-shore  leading  to  the  sandhills  rather  more  productive 

than  the  hills  themselves.     By  lifting  stones  many  beetles 

were  ■  discovered,   mostly  common  species,  of  course,   but 

the  following  are  worth  recording  : — Notiophilus  substriaius, 

Harpalus  rubripes,   H.   tardus,   Amara   curta,   A.   similata, 

Dichirotrichus    pubescens    (varying    from    pale    yellow    to 

quite  black),  Pogonus  chaluus,  Metabletus  foveola,  Quediits 

boops,  Ocypus  ater,  Bledius  spectabilis,  Nacerdes  melanura, 


1923.       Janson  and  Wyse— ^  Fortnight's  Entomology.  11 

Hyper  a  punctata.     On  the  sandhills  proper  some  interesting 
species     were     unearthed     such    as  : — Falagria     thoracica, 
Choleva  chrysomeloides,  Serica  brunnea,  Phyllopertha  horticola, 
Lacon  murinus,  Helodes  rninuta,  Timarcha  laevigata,  Gastro- 
idea  polygoni,  Heliopathes  gibbus,  Sitones  griseus,    Tychius 
squamulatus.     Two    beetles    call    for    special    mention    on 
account    of   their    great    abundance  :     Timarcha    laevigata 
and  Philopedon  gerninatus.      The  hrst-mentioned  occurred 
in  hundreds  in  sheltered  spots  on  the  sandhills  and  on 
account  of  its  large  size  and  gregarious  habits  was  very- 
conspicuous.     Strange  to  say,  this  is  apparently  the  only 
known  locality  for  it  in  Ireland.     The  weevil,  Philopedon 
geminatus,   occurred  on  the   barer  parts  of  the  sandhills, 
and  in  company  with  the  '  lamellicorn  '  Aegialia    arenaria 
might  be  seen  at  any  time  toihng  up  steep  sand-banks  and, 
before  surmounting  the  obstacle,  tumbling  to  the  bottom 
and  recommencing  immediately,   apparently  undismayed, 
the  same  perilous  ascent.     This  might  be  repeated  dozens 
of  times,  but  the  indomitable  little  creatures  would  never 
give  in  until  success  crowned  their  efforts,  affording  an 
example  of  perseverance  that  might  even  render  Bruce 's 
spider  envious  !     Another  visit  was  made  to  Tramore  on 
June  29th,  and  the  western  side  of  the  Bay  explored  by 
way  of  the  Doneraile  Walk,  Cliff  Walk  and  the  road  leading 
to  the  Metal  Man,  an  imposing  figure  of  a  sailor  on  a  high 
pillar  pointing  towards  the  sea  to   warn  away  shipping 
from  the  dangerous  rock}^  coast.     Here  quite  a  different 
fauna  from  that  of  the  sandhills  was  noted.     In  the  flowers 
of  Ox-Eye  Daisy  and  Yellow  Sea  Aster,  the  pretty  green 
beetle,  Psilothrix  nobilis,  was  found  commonly.     The  Rose- 
beetle,    Cetonia    aurata   was   another   interesting   capture, 
of  which  an  example  was  seen  flying  in  the  sunshine  and 
taken  as  it  settled  on  a  stone  wall.     Both  these  local  species 
have  been  already  recorded  from  Tramore,  but  their  re- 
appearance   after    several    years'    interval    is    of    interest. 
Other  species  taken  during  the   day  were  : — Leistus  fulvi- 
barbis,  Amara  plebeia,  Olisthopus  rotundatiis,  Quedius  cinctus, 
Xantholinus  glabratiis,   Lagria    hirta,   Otiorrhynchus    ovatus 
0,    musconmi,    Sitones   griseus. 

A2 


i2  The  Irish  Naturalist.  February, 

Having  now  pretty  well  exhausted  the  immediate 
environs  of  Waterford,  we  were  anxious  to  explore  new 
ground  and  see  what  Lismore  and  the  surrounding  country 
might  produce  in  the  way  of  coleoptera.  We  left  Waterford 
accordingly  on  July  ist,  in  torrents  of  rain  which,  however, 
abated  as  we  neared  the  old  town  after  a  voyage  in  the 
train  of  two  or  three  hours.  We  had  intended  to  put  up 
at  the  "  Devonshire  Arms  "  but  found  that  this  old- 
established  hotel  had  quite  recently  closed  down.  This 
was  a  disappointment,  but  luckily  our  friend  Captain 
Penrose  of  Tramore  had  provided  us  with  a  letter  of  intro- 
duction to  the  Dean  of  Lismore,  who  received  us  most 
hospitably  and  actually  put  himself  to  the  trouble  of  finding 
suitable  accommodation  for  us  at  Mrs.  Hale's  Private 
Hotel,  where  we  were  made  as  comfortable  as  possible 
for  the  remainder  of  our  stay.  The  kindly  Dean,  who 
only  lived  a  stone's  throw  away  from  the  hotel,  begged  us 
to  take  tea  with  him  and  his  wife,  and  both  entertained 
us  with  many  good  stories  racy  of  the  soil.  The  Dean 
afterwards  showed  us  over  the  beautiful  grounds  of  Lismore 
Castle,  of  which  we  did  not  fail  to  admire  the  wonderful 
old  avenue  of  beech  trees.  In  the  evening  after  dinner, 
we  strolled  down  to  the  river  Blackwater  and  took  a  few 
beetles,  but  nothing  calling  for  special  mention.  Next  day, 
after  Sunday  devotions,  we  spent  most  of  the  afternoon 
collecting  on  the  banks  of  the  Blackwater,  and  found  the 
usual  riparian  species  there  and  a  few  others  of  more  than 
ordinary  interest,  such  as  : — Chlcenius  nigricornis  and  the 
rare  var.  melanocornis,  Anchomenus  augusticollis,  Bem- 
hidium  decorum,  B.  punctulatum,  Laccohius  oblongus,  Philon- 
thus  quisquiliarius  and  var.  dimidiatus,  Silpha  dispar,  Cryp- 
iohypnus  dermestoides,  C.  iv-giUtatus,  Gastroidea  polygoni. 
On  Monday,  July  3rd,  we  decided  tc  collect  in  a  new  locality 
and,  walked  to  Balliaspie  woods  about  two  miles  due 
south-east  of  Lismore,  situated  on  rising  ground.  Many 
of  the  trees,  mostly  firs,  had  been  cut  away  within  recent 
times  and  nothing  but  the  unsightly  stumps  remained. 
Here  a  few  lepidoptera  were  flying  about  us,  Cidaria 
populata  (plentiful),  Venilia  macidaria,  Bomolocha  fontis  ; 
but  the  coleoptera  came  in  for  most  attention,  and  the 


1923.        Janson  and  Wyse — A  Fortnight's  Entomology.  13 

following    were    noted  : — Pterostichus    cupreus,    Bolitobius 
exoletus,  Anatis  ocellata,  Malthodes  marginatus,  M.  pellucidus, 
Athous  niger.     On  the   whole,   this  was  one  of   the  least 
productive  spots  we  had  yet  struck,  so  we  felt  compelled 
to  put  out  our  maximum  effort  next  day,  July  4th,  and 
make  the  ascension  of  one  of  the  Knockmealdown  peaks. 
One  of  our  chief  objects  in  coming  to  Ireland  was  to  turn 
up  the  rare  and  beautiful  alpine  beetle,  Leistus  montanus, 
which  is  perhaps  commoner  in  Ireland  than  in  any  other 
part  of  the  United  Kingdom.     But  as  this  rarity  is  scarcely 
ever   found   below   an   elevation   of   fifteen   hundred   feet, 
it  entailed  both  a  stiff  climb  and  a  long  walk  to  reach  a 
suitable  mountain  where  it  might  be  found.     We  decided 
that  the  only  way  of  reaching  our  objective  was  by  motor 
car,  but  such  was  not  easity  procurable,  for  soon  we  had 
tidings  that  all  available  cars  had  been  commandeered  by 
the  Irregulars  who  were  in  possession  of  the  town.     Our 
landlady,   however,   who   tactfully  managed  to   keep  well 
with  all  parties,  had  soon  found  us  a  car  in  charge  of  a  well 
set  up  young  fellow  of  inflexible  demeanour.     In  a  moment 
we  were  rushing  at  break-neck  speed  through  the  town, 
and  across  the  beautiful  stone  bridge  over  the  Blackwater, 
and  up  the  Glen  to  the  Gap,  a  distance  of  about  seven 
miles.     Not  a  word  was  spoken  during  our  exciting  course, 
but  we  could  not  help  admiring  the  skill  with  which  our 
chauffeur   negotiated   the    exceedingly   sharp   turnings   of 
the  narrow  mountain  road.     On  alighting  in  the  Gap  at 
the  foot  of  one  of  the  highest  peaks  of  the  Knockmealdown 
range,  our  guide  informed  us  that  we  had  already  reached 
an  altitude  of  over  one  thousand  feet,  that  there  yet  remxained 
another  thousand  to   reach  the  top.     He  advised  us  to 
follow  the   stone   wall   which   here  marked  the  boundary 
between   Waterford   and   Tipperary   counties,   to   the   top 
and    he    would    wait    for    our    return.     We     immediately 
commenced  the  ascent  at  a  slow  pace,  turning  over  stones 
as  we  proceeded,  and  had  not  gone  far  before  we   were 
taking  such  characteristic  high  ground  species  as  Leistus 
nifescens,  Harpalns  latus,  Trechus  ohtusus.     WTien  we  had 
cHmbed  about  five  or  six  hundred  feet  and  had  reached 
a  total  height  of  between  fifteen  and  sixteen  hundred  feet, 
the  first  Leistus  montanus  was  taken  under  a  stone  and 


14  The  Irish  Natumlist.  February. 

was  followed  at  short  intervals  by  two  or  three  others, 
but  this  good  fortune  was  not  continued  during  the  re- 
mainder of  our  ascent,  only  one  or  two  more  examples 
being  captured.  But  other  mountain  beetles  were  observed 
as  : — Nebria  gyllenhali,  Pterosfichus  vitreus,  Olisthopus  rotun- 
datus,  Patrobus  assimilis,  etc.  On  the  top  of  the  mountain 
we  were  met  by  a  piercing  blast  and  a  driving  mist  that 
rendered  collecting  almost  impossible  and  obscured  the  view, 
though  glimpses  of  the  imposing  range  of  the  Galtees  to 
the  north  were  obtained  from  time  to  time.  Here,  in  the 
shelter  of  a  huge  heap  of  stones  we  had  our  frugal  lunch 
with  occasional  nips  of  aqua  fortis  to  keep  out  the  cold. 
We  returned  to  the  Gap  by  the  same  way  as  we  had  ccme, 
and  in  the  same  bit  of  ground  found  a  couple  more  Leistus 
montanus  and  single  specimens  of  Cychrus  rostratus  and 
Carabus  catenulatus.  We  found  the  chauffeur  and  the 
motor  car  awaiting  us  on  the  road,  and  in  a  very  short 
time  we  were  speeding  towards  Lismore  which  we  arrived 
at  in  time  for  tea.     A^nd  so  ended  a  most  eventful  day. 

On  July  5th  we  walked  to  Cappoquin  and  followed  the 
right  bank  of  the  Blackwater  for  the  first  couple  of  miles. 
Along  the  shore,  in  suitable  places,  a  few  beetles  were 
taken — chiefly  Bembidia — of  which  one  or  two  species  are 
worth  mentioning  as  : — Bemhidium  concinnum,  B.  decorum. 
From  shrubs  and  trees  a  few  weevils  were  swept  as  : — 
Orchestes  fagi,  Strophosomus  coryli,  S.  retusus,  Liophlceus 
nubilus,  Miccotrogus  picirostris,  Ceuthorrhynchus  marginatus. 
About  half  way  to  Cappoquin  we  were  obliged  to  take 
the  high  road  as  our  river  path  gave  out.  On  the  road, 
numerous  specimens  of  the  common  Cinnabar  Moth 
(Euchelia  jacobcece)  were  found  settled,  their  bright  colours 
making  them  very  conspicuous.  We  had  a  good  tea  at 
Morrison's  Hotel  in  Cappoquin,  and  returned  to  Lismore 
by  train  in  the  rain.  Next  day,  July  6th,  there  was  more 
rain,  which  rather  damped  our  ardour,  but  towards  evening 
it  cleared  up  considerably,  and  once  more  we  sallied  forth 
in  search  of  specimens.  We  found  some  promising  ground 
in  the  Glen  on  the  banks  of  the  Owenasshad  river,  a 
tributary  of  the  Blackwater.  Here  some  new  things  were 
taken  as  : — Calathus  piceus  under  stones,  and  Anthohium 
ophthalmicum,   Cychramus  luteus,    Gramnioptera  ruficornis 


I 


1923.        Janson  and  Wyse — A  Fortnight's  Entomology.         15 

Anaspis  rufilahris,  A.  maculata  on  the  flowers  of  Fool's 
Parsley.  We  were  so  pleased  with  this  new  locality  that 
we  returned  to  it  next  day,  July  7th — and  last  day  of  our 
stay  in  Lismore,  and  by  searching  under  stones  at  the 
edge  of  the  water,  the  following  beetles  came  to  light  : — 
Bembidium  decorum,  B.  atrocoeruleum,  B.  tihiale,  Orechtochilus 
villosus  (common),  AnaccBua  limhata,  Homalota  {Atheta) 
currax,  Ocypus  compressus,  Stenus  canaliculatus ,  Hydrocyphon 
deflexicollis  (common).  The  flowers  of  Fool's  Parsley  were 
very  attractive  to  insects  of  different  orders — chiefly 
hymenoptera  and  diptera  and  also  coleoptera — and  to  the 
list  of  those  latter  already  taken  the  preceding  day  may 
be  added  the  *  longicoms  '  Grammoptera  tahacicolor,  Rhagium 
hifasciatum,  Leiopus  nebulosus.  Had  the  weather  been 
warm  and  sunny,  it  is  quite  possible  that  other  species  of 
this  interesting  group — so  poorly  represented  in  Ireland — 
might  have  been  taken,  for  the  locality  was  eminently 
suitable.  We  separated  after  an  hour  or  so  collecting  here, 
as  one  of  us  was  anxious  to  try  a  nice-looking  spot  higher 
up  the  river  beyond  the  Glen,  which  we  had  singled  out 
during  our  memorable  motor  drive  on  the  4th.  But  this 
ground  proved  most  disappointing,  producing  only  a  few 
common  '  Bembids  '  and  single  examples  of  Carabus 
catenulatus  and  C.  granulatus.  On  returning  to  Lismore, 
a  specimen  each  of  Cychrus  rostratus  and  Staphylinus 
erythropterus  were  obtained  under  stones  in  the  Glen,  and 
these  were  our  last  captures  in  Ireland.  We  left  Lismore 
in  the  late  afternoon  and  arrived  in  Waterford  rather 
late  the  same  evening.  We  remained  the  night  there, 
and  next  evening  embarked  for  England  in  the  same  steamer, 
ss.  Waterford,  which  had  brought  us  over,  and  so  our  holiday 
came  to   a   close. 

To  the  Dean  of  Lismore  and  Captain  Penrose,  and 
their  amiable  consorts,  we  feel  deeply  indebted  for  ser\dces 
rendered  and  kind  hospitality  which  contributed  much  to 
the  success  and  pleasure  of  our  holiday.  We  tender  to 
them  our  grateful  thanks,  with  the  hope  that  the  friendship 
so  pleasantly  begun  may  be  renewed  some  day  in  the 
near  future. 

We  find  after  having  sorted  out  our  captures  that  they 
comprise  some  two  hundred  and  eighty  species  of  coleoptera, 


l6  '     The  Irish  Naturalist.  February^ 

two  of  which  are  new  to  Ireland,  and  more'  than  fifty  are 
now  recorded  for  the  first  time  from  Co.  Waterford.  The 
two  new  Irish  species  are  : — -Amara  curta,  Dej. — A  specimen 
of  this  ground-beetle  occurred  under  a  stone  on  the  Tramore 
sea-shore  27.  vi.  '22r.  (L.H.B.W.)  This  species  is  scarce 
and  very  local  in  Britain  ;  most  of  the  specimens  in  collec- 
tions are  from  Deal,  where  it  has  occurred  commonly  on 
the  sand  dunes  ;  it  has  also  been  recorded  from  Yorkshire 
and  the  Forth  district  of  Scotland. 

;.  Tychius  squamulatus,  Gyll. — Six  specimens  of  this  weevil 
were  obtained  on  the  Tramore  sandhills  on  flowers  of 
Lotus  cor niculatus,  2y,-  ^o.V'i.  '22.  (O.E.J.)  In-  Britain 
this  species  is  mostly  found  in  the  southern  chalky  districts 
and  has  also  been  recorded  from  Suffolk,  Oxford,  Barmouth 
and  Southport. 

The  species  new  to   Co.   Waterford  number  fifty-five-. 

•\Ve  have  initialed  those  species  in  which  only  one  of  us 
succeeded  in  taking  examples,  and  have  followed,  for  the 
sake  of  reference,  the  nomenclature  of  the  Irish  List."" 

Cychrus  rostratus,  L, — Two    specimens,    one    on    Knockmealdown,    and 
-     .  the    other   in    the    Glen    near    Lismore.    (L.H.B.W.) 
Carabus  catenulatuSj  Scop. — Two  specimens,  Knockmealdown  and  banks 

of  Owennashad  River.   (L.H.B.W.) 
Notiophilus  substrlatus,   Wat. — Two     specimens     on     Tramore     strand, 

27.  vi.   '22.   (L.H.B.W.) 
Leistus  mpntanus,  Staph. — Seven  specimens  on  Knockmealdown,  4.  vii.  '22. 
i-JL'  rufescens,  F. — Common  on  Knockmealdown. 

Nebria  gyllenhali,  Sch. — On  the  higher  slopes  of  Knockmealdown,  a  few. 
Chlaenius  nigricornis,  var.   melanocornis,  Dej.^ — One  specimen  with  pale 
femora  and  tibiae  would  seem  to  be  referable  to  this   rare   variety, 
2.  vii.   '22.   (L.H.B.W.) 
Harpalus  rubripes,  Duft.- — One  example  9  on  Tramore  strand.  30.  vi.  '22. 
\.,.  '.     (L.H.B.W). 
Pterostichus  vitreus,  Dej.' — Two  specimens  on  Knockmealdown,  4.  vii.  '22. 
Amara  plebeia,  Gyll.' — Tramore,  29.  vi.  '22.   (O.E.J). 
*  A.  similata,  Gyll.-^Several  specimens   on  Tramore  strand,     27.    vi.    '22. 
(L.H.B.W.)  .  . 

Galathus  piceus,  Marsh. — Lismore,  a  few. 
Ancliomenus  angusticollis^  F. — Lismore. 
A.  vidUUS,  Panz.— Waterford,   26.  vi.    '22. 
piisthoptis  rotundatus,  Payk. — Common  on  Knockmealdown. 
Bembidium  aeneum,  Germ.' — Waterford,  Kilbarry  marshes,  26,  vi.  '22. 

'  A  List  of  the  Beetles  of  Ireland.     By  Rev.  W.   F.   Johnson  and  J. 
<-lf^."  Halbert.   (1902). 


1923.        Janson  and  Wyse  — ^  Fortnight" s  Entomology .  17 

B.  tibiale,  Duft. — Lismore,  a  few  by  Owennashad  River,  y.vii.  '22.    (O.E.J.) 
B.  decorum,  Panz. — Lismore,    common    on    banks    of    Blackwater    and 

Owennashad  rivers. 
B.  concinnum,  Steph. — Three  specimens  on  banks  of  River  Blackwater, 

Lismore,  5.  vii.   '22.   (L.H.B.W). 
Patrobus  assimilis,  Chaud. — A  few  on  Knockmealdown  at  a  high  elevationj 

.  4.  vii.   '22. 
Metabletus  foveola,  Gyll. — -Tramore,  30.  vi.  '22. 
Laccobius  sinuatus.  Mots. — Lismore,  2^^  vii.  '22.   (O.E.J.) 
Ochthebius  pygmaeus,  F.^ —  "\  Waterford,   Kilbarry  marshes,  26.  vi.   '22. 
0.  bicolon,  Germ. —  j  (O.E.J). 

Oxypoda  longiuscula,  Er. — Waterford,  24.  vi.  '22.   (O.E.J).  ...;_,:  ;i7 

Homalota  (Atheta)  currax,  Kr. — Lismore,  7.  vii.  '22.   (O.E.J)^  .\^.l 

H.  atricolor,  Sharp. — Tramore,  30.  vi.   '22.   (O.E.J). 
Tachyusa  atra,  Grav. — Several    on    Kilbarry    marshes    near    Waterford, 

26.  vi.   '22. 
Falagria  thoracica,  Curt. — Tramore,  30.  vi.   '22.   (O.E.J). 
Quedius  cinetus,  Payk. — Tramore,  29.  vi.   '22.   (O.E.J). 
Q.  boops,  Grav. — Tramore,   27,   29,   30.  vi.   '22. 

Ocypus  ater,  Grav. — Tramore,  30.  vi.   '22.   (L.H.B.W).  f 

Philonthus  quisquiliarius,    Gyll.,    and   van    dimidiatus,    Er. — Both   were 

taken   on   banks   of   Blackwater,    2.    vii.    '22.    (O.E.J). 
Actobius  cinerascens,  Grav. — Near    Waterford,    24.    vi.    '22.    (O.E.J).  ; 
Stenus  incrassatus,  Er. — A  few  specimens  on  Kilbarry  marshes,  Water- 
ford, 26.  vi.'  22.    Not  recorded  in  the  '  List  '  but  taken  since  publica- 
tion by  Rev.  W.   F.   Johnson,  in  Co.   Shgo   {I.N.  xiv.   253). 
S.  canaliculatus,  Gyll. — Waterford,  26.  vi.   '22.   (O.E.J). 
Bledius  spectabilis,  Kr. — Tramore,  females  only,   27,   30.  vi.   '22. 
Silpha  dispar,  Herbst. — Two    specimens    on   right   bank   of    Blackwater, 

near   Lismore.    2.    vii.    '22.    (L.H.B.W). 
Choleva  (Catops)  chrysomeloides,  Panz. — Tramore,  27.  vi.  '22.   (O.E.J). 
Cercus  rufllabris,  Latr. — Waterford,  24.  vi.   '22.   (O.E.J). 
Cychramus  luteus,  F. — Lismore,  common  on  flowers. 
Enicmus  transversus,  01. — ^Waterford,  24.  vi.  '22.  (O.E.J). 
Lacon  murinus,  L. — Tramore  sandhills,  27.  vi.  '22. 
Cryptohypnus  dermestoides,  Herbst. — Lismore,  2.  vii.  '22. 
Helodes  minuta,  F. — Tramore,  27.  vi.  '22.   (O.E.J). 
Cyphon  nitidulus,  Thoms. —     "1  Lismore,  5.  7.  '22.   (O.E.J). 
Malthodes  dispar  Germ.—         jLismore,  5.  7.  '22.   (O.E.J). 
Gastroidea  polygoni,  L. — Tramore   sandhills,    30.    vi.    '22..    and    Lismore, 

2.  vii.   '22. 
Phaedon  armoraciae,  L.' — Waterford,  27.  6.  '22.   (O.E.J), 
Galeruceila  nymphaeae,  L.— Tramore,  27.  vi.   '22.   (O.E.J). 
Phyllotreta  exclamationis,  Thunb.— Waterford,  26.  vi.  '22.   (O.E.J).     - 
Nacerdes  melanura,  Schmidt. — One  specimen  on   Tramore   strand,    near 

racecourse,  27.  vi.  '22.   (L.H.B.W). 
Apion  ulicis,  Forst.^ — Lismore,  7.  vii.  '22.   (O.E.J).  -d 

A.  scutellare,  Kirby.— Lismore,  7.  vii.  '22.  .(O.E.J).  ,,;;■   ur  ' 

Otiorrhynchus  muscorum,  Bris. — Tramore,  29.  vi.  '22.  (O.E.J). 


t8  The  Irish  Naturalist.  February, 

REVIEW. 

A    LABORATORY    MANUAL. 

Practical  Zoology  for  Medical  and  Junior  Students.  By  J.  D.  F.  Gilchrist, 
M.A.,  D.Sc,  Ph.D.,  Professor,  and  C.  von  Bonde,  M.A.,  Lecturer 
in  the  University  of  Cape  Town.  Pp.  329.  105  illustrations. 
Edinburgh  :   E.    &    S.    Livingstone,    1922.       Price    205, 

This  book  was  originally  intended  for  the  use  of  elementary  students 
in  South  Africa,  and  therefore  includes  descriptions  of  special  types 
peculiar  to  that  region.  In  order  to  make  the  book  suitable  for  European 
students,  descriptions  have  been  added  of  the  types  usually  studied  in 
these  countries. 

Comparing  the  book  with  those  classics  of  the  laboratory  Parker's 
"  Zootomy  "  and  Marshall  and  Hurst's  "  Practical  Zoology,"  one  notes 
several  departures  from  their  methods.  First  there  is  the  extensive 
employment  of  diagrams  to  illustrate  the  various  dissections.  These 
are  of  course  supplemented  by  descriptive  instructions  for  dissections, 
but  one  fears  that  many  students  will  be  tempted  to  copy  the  diagrams, 
and  neglect  the  instructions,  thus  failing  to  gain  that  knowledge  of  the 
work  which  comes  through  carefully  following  Parker  or  Marshall  and 
Hurst.  The  book  is  interleaved  with  blank  paper  for  sketches,  but  this 
is  too  thin  to  be  serviceable,  and  its  proximity  to  the  diagrams  only  in- 
creases the  temptation  to  copy  these. 

The  book  is  excellently  printed  and  bound,  and  is  remarkably  free  from 
errors,  typographical  or  otherwise  ;  in  one  or  two  of  the  diagrams  there 
are  negligible  errors  of  detail.  Altogether,  the  book  is  very  suitable 
for  junior  students  in  the  hands  of  a  careful  teacher. 

D.  S.  T. 


NEWS    GLEANINGS. 

Our  readers  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  Belfast  at  last  is  to  have  its  new 
Natural  History  Museum  and  Art  Gallery,  so  long  delayed  by  the  war,  the 
Corporation  at  the  monthly  meeting  on  October  2nd,  having  confirmed 
the  minutes  of  the  Museum  and  Literary  Committee,  recommending  the 
Council  to  go  on  with  the  building,  the  plans  of  which  were  ready  in  191 4. 
On  the  declaration  of  war  in  August,  1914,  advertisements  were  already 
in  the  Belfast  papers  inviting  tenders  for  the  erection  of  the  first  section 
at  a  cost  of  about  ^30,000,  the  finished  building  to  cost  ,^50,000  in  all. 
This  has  now  been  much  exceeded,  ;^8o,ooo  is  to  be  spent  on  the  first 
section.  The  building  will  be  erected  in  the  Botanic  Park,  close  to  the 
University,  and  will  contain  a  lecture  room  or  theatre  which  can  be  used 
by  the  local  scientific  and  art  societies.  It  will  have  a  separate  entrance 
from  the  Stranmillis   Road, 


1923.  Notes. 


NOTES. 


19 


ZOOLOGY, 

Shakespeare's    "  Scamel." 

I  wish  to  put  forward  what  I  beheve  to  be  a  possible  solution  of  a 
problem  which  has  hitherto  baffled  the  commentators  of  Shakespeare, 
In  the  "  Tempest  "  Act  ii.,  Sc.  ii.,  there  occurs  this  passage  : — 

I'll  bring  thee 
To   clust'ring   filberds,    and  sometimes   I'll  get  thcie 
Young  scamels  from  the  rock. 

It  has  b-^en  thought  that  the  word  "  scamel  "  is  a  misprint  for  "  seamal," 
i.e.,  sea-mew  (seagull)  or  for  "  Stannel  "  a  Kestrel.  For  instance,  in 
Whittingham's  edition  (1814)  which  I  happen  to  have  at  hand,  "  sea- 
melis  "  is  the  word  used.  In  Newton's  "  Dictionary  of  Birds,"  pp.  814, 
815,  the  following  note  occurs  : — Scamel,  a  word  used  once  by  Shakespeare 
.  ,  .  that  has  given  rise  to  many  conjectures  .  .  .  but  is  commonly 
accepted  as  a  bird's  name,  a  signification  rendered  more  likely  by  the  fact 
that  at  Blakeney,  on  the  coast  of  Norfolk,  it  was  applied  to  a  Godwit 
(Stevenson,  B.  Norf.,  ii.,  p.  260),  though  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that 
Shakespeare  used  it  in  that  sense.      It  seems  to  be  otherwise  unknown." 

The  v/ord  "  scameler  "  is  used  to  my  knowledge  at  Ardkeen,  Kircubbin, 
and  Portaferry  on  Strangford  Lough,  and  is  an  uncommon  local  name  for 
the  Red-breasted  Merganser  [Mergus  senator).  Confusion  between  this 
bird  and  the  Sheldrake  occurs  easily  in  the  popular  mind.  This  is  exem- 
pliiied  by  the  fact  that  in  some  places  the  local  name  "  Scale-duck  "  refers 
to  the  Sheldrake  {cf.  "  Newton's  Dictionary,"  p.  814),  while  at  Strang- 
ford Lough  "  S:ale-duck,"  or  more  commonly  "  Scalers,"  is  the  folk-name 
for  the  Merganser.  I  conclude  that  this  confusion  actually  occurred 
when  the  name  migrated  to  England  from  Scotland,  its  birthplace  in  all 
probability.  So  the  Slieldrake  is  called  "  scameler."  It  is,  however, 
possible  that  the  word  came  to  be  used  more  generally  (perhaps  especially 
of  ducks)  just  as  "sea-gull"  as  used  popularly  includes  a  number  of 
different  species. 

:\Iy  belief  is  that  in  Shakespeare's  time  "  scamel  "  or  "  scameler  "  was 
a  name  for  the  Sheldrake  used  possibly  in  the  loose  manner  of 
many  local  names,  and  perhaps  also  used,  even  then,  of  the  Merganser. 
At  any  rate  since  it  is  likely  that  Shakespeare  heard  the  name  in  England, 
and  since  the  Sheldrake  nests  in  England,  but  the  Merganser  does  not, 
it  is  almost  certain  that  if  Shakespeare  had  any  particular  bird  in  mind  it 
was  the  Sheldrake. 

My  reason  for  believing  the  word  to  have  come  from  Scotland  is  that 
the  majority  of  the  people  where  the  word  is  used  are  of  Scottish  descent, 
immigrants  at  the  time  of  the  Plantations. 

Perhaps  "  scamel  "  may  yet  be  tracked  to  its  lair  in  North  Britain  ! 

Belfast.  Edward  A.  Armstrong. 


20  The  Irish  Naturalist,  February,  1923, 

Our  correspondent  raises  a  question  of  which  many  solutions  have 
been  offered — as  will  be  seen  on  reference  to  such  standaid  works  as 
Furness's  "  Variorum  Edition  of  Shakespeare,"  and  Wright*s  "  English 
Dialect  Dictionary  "'  ;  but  the  re -raising  of  the  subject  should  be  welcomed 
as  affording  to  Irish  students  the  opportunity  of  throwing  any  fresh  light 
that  has  fallen  into  their  hands  on  a  still  unsolved  enigma. 

The  most  remarkable  feature  common  to  all  the  meanings  that  have 
been  proposed  for  the  word  "  scamel  "  in  the  passage  in  question  is 
that  not  one  of  them  is  free  from  some  strong  objection.  It  is  to  be  feared 
that  in  this  respect  the  Shellduck  and  Merganser  will  fare  no  better  than 
other  claimants  ;  for,  as  neither  of  these  birds  rears  its  young  on  rocks, 
Caliban  would  be  promising  himself  rather  a  "  wild  goose  chase  "  in 
making  the  offer  he  did  if  either  of  them  were  the  creatures  in  his  mind. 

If,  however,  this  objection  be  over-ruled,  and  birds  nesting  elsewhere 
than  on  rocks  held  admissible,  a  strong  claimant  at  once  presents  itself 
in  the  Bar-tailed  Godwit,  for  which,  as  stated  in  Stevenson's  "  Birds  of 
Norfolk  "  and  confirmed  by  later  writers  (see  Kirk  Swann's  "  Dictionary 
of  English  and  Folk  Names  of  British  Birds  ")  the  term  "  scamel  "  is 
still  in  actual  use  among  shooting  men  in  some  districts  of  East  Anglia. 

In  Newton's  "  Dictionary  of  Birds  "  the  Godwit  is  definitely  and 
rather  abruptly  set  aside,  the  nature  of  its  breeding-haunts  being  probably 
the  sole  reason  for  its  exclusion  from  the  list  of  possible  claimants. 
Evidently,  no  critic  is  remorseless  enough  to  suggest  that  Shakespeare 
may  have  fallen  into  a  mistake  as  to  where  the  Godwit  nested  ;  and 
Professor  Trench,  whom  we  have  consulted  on  the  subject,  rules  out  as 
equally  untenable  the  hypothesis  that  Shakespeare  purposely  made 
Caliban  commit  a  blunder.  If,  however,  this  objection  is  fatal  to  the 
Godwit,  it  must  be  equally  so  to  any  other  species  whose  young  are  not 
reared  on  rocks. 

Such  readings  as  "sea-mew,"  "sea-mall,"  "  sea-gelV  and  even 
"  stannel  "  {i.e.,  the  Kestrel) — supposed  to  have  been  corrupted  by 
careless  printing  into  "  scamel  " — have  apparently  been  put  forward  to 
get  rid  of  the  difficulty  that  none  but  a  rock-nesting  creature  will  do 
One  may  reasonably  question,  however,  whether  either  young  gulls  or 
young  Kestrels  would  have  been  esteemed  a  tempting  offer  for  Stefano's 
"  royal  table."  In  this  respect,  at  least,  the  Godwit  has  a  marked 
advantage  over  the  other  claimants  ;  but  the  field  is  clearly  open  for 
other  suggestions,  and  we  hope  that  some  may  yet  be  put  forward. 

C.  B.  Moffat. 
Dublin. 


March,  1923.  The  Irish  Naturalist. 


21 


THE    STUDY    OF    COMMON    WILD    FLOWERS: 
A  PLEA  FOR  CLOSER  INVESTIGATION. 

BY    C.    B.    MOFFAT,    B.A.,    M.R.I. A. 

[Read  before  the  Dublin  Naturalists'  Field  Club, 

II  January,   1923]. 

I  THINK  I  may  be  allowed  to  occupy  a  small  part  of  your 
time  in  inviting  your  attention  to  some  of  the  fields  of  study 
that  I  think  are  open  to  the  most  amateur  investigators 
in  the  study  of  common  plants. 

The  late  Mr.  Colgan,  in  some  letters  he  wrote  to  me  just 
a  year  before  his  lamented  death,  informed  me  that  he  was 
comparing  a  number  of  common  plants  with  the  descriptions 
given  of  them  in  standard  works  on  botany,  and  was  struck 
with  the  degree  to  which  they  often  failed  to  correspond. 
In  some  cases  the  points  on  which  he  found  disagreement 
are  such  as  would  need  the  eye  of  an  expert  botanist  to 
follow  up  the  inquiry.  For  instance  Mr.  CoJgan  found 
that  che  fruit  of  the  common  Yellow  Bedstraw  (Galium 
verum),  which  is  described  in  the  standard  manuals  (Babing- 
ton's,  for  instance)  as  glabrous,  is  in  County  Dublin  specimens 
wrinkled  when  ripe  ;  and  some  heads  that  I  sent  him  from 
Co.  Wexford  were  in  this  respect  similar  to  the  Dublin 
ones  ;  but  I  think  microscopic  investigation  would  have 
to  be  undertaken  by  those  who  wish  to  follow  up  an  inquiry 
on  this  subject.  In  other  cases,  however,  the  field  of 
in\'estigation  is  open  to  everybody.  Mr.  Colgan  was 
particularly  struck  with  the  fact  that  the  common  Bird's- 
foot  Trefoil  [Lotus  corniculatus)  is  described  in  the  leading 
manuals  as  having  from  five  to  ten  flowers  in  a  head.  (This 
is  the  statement  in  Babington's  Manual,  Groves'  edition, 
1904,  while  in  Bentham's  Handbook  the  estimate  is  still 
higher,  and  the  umbels  are  said  to  be  of  "  from  five  or  six 
to  twice  that  number  of  bright  yellow  flowers  ".)  Whereas 
in   Mr.    Colgan 's   own   experience   the   number  of   flowers 


A 


22  The  Irish  Naturalist.  March, 

never  exceeded  five.  Here  we  have  certainly  a  disagree- 
ment worth  following  up.  I  may  state  that  I  was  able,  in 
reply  to  Mr.  Colgan's  request,  to  find  a  few  heads  of  this 
plant  with  as  many  as  six  flowers,  but  nothing  to  corroborate 
such  an  estimate  as  "  from  five  to  ten,"  and  nothing  to 
throw  doubt  on  the  vahdity  of  Mr.  Colgan's  finding  so  far 
as  the  Counties  Dublin  and  Wexford  are  concerned,  that 
five  is  the  usual  number  of  flowers  on  a  good  head. 

In  looking  into  this  matter,  I  was  struck  with  the  fact 
that  while  botanists  seem  to  have  over-stated  the  number 
of  flowers  proper  to  a  head  of  Lotus  corniculatus  they  have 
under-stated  those  of  the  nearly  allied  Greater  Bird's-foot 
Trefoil  {Lotus  uliginosiis) ,  which  is  unfortunately  not  very 
common  about  Dublin,  though  abundant  in  most  parts 
of  Counties  Wicklow  and  Wexford.  Bentham  describes 
it  as  having  onty  from  six  to  eight  flowers  per  head.  Babing- 
ton  more  generously  accords  it  from  eight  to  twelve.  In 
Co.  Wexford  I  found  heads  of  twelve  so  plentiful  as  to  make 
Bentham 's  estimate  of  from  six  to  eight  seem  almost  absurd. 
I  found  also  a  few  heads  with  fourteen  flowers,  a,nd  I  believe 
that  had  I  been  in  the  country  when  the  species  was  in  its 
fullest  bloom  I  would  probably  have  found  such  heads  to 
be  fairly  numerous.  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  questions 
of  this  kind  are  worth  more  careful  investigation,  and  that 
they  also  make  it  appear  probable  that  many  similar  ones 
might  be  found  equalh^  calling  for  more  research. 

Another  question  in  which  it  is  known  that  Mr.  Colgan 
took  extraordinary  interest  was  that  of  the  proper  assign- 
ment to  different  species  of  their  characters  as  annuals, 
perennials  or  biennials.  In  his  '  Flora  of  County  Dubhn  " 
he  gives  the  results  of  his  investigations  so  far  as  they  were 
completed  when  he  wrote  that  book.  I  think  his  results 
show  that  a  great  deal  of  further  investigation  is  needed, 
for  although  we  will  find  in  any  of  the  leading  manuals  a 
character  under  this  heading  assigned  to  each  plant,  we 
not  infrequently  fi.nd  that  the  best  authorities  differ,  and 
even  when  they  agree,  Mr.  Colgan's  investigations  some- 
times show  that  they  have  only  agreed  in  being  wrong.  I 
will  take  as  instances  of  the  singular  contradictions  proved 
by  a  comparison  of  Mr.  Colgan's  results  with  the  verdicts 


I 


I 


1923.  Moffat — Study  of  Common  Wild  Flowers.  23 

of  Babington  and  Bentham,  four  plants  well  known  to  all 
students  of  our  Dublin  flora — the  Sea  Poppy  (Glaucium 
hiteum),  White  Qimbing  Fumitory  [Corydalis  claviculata), 
English  Stonecrop  (Sedum  anglicum)  and  Black  Medick 
(Medicago  hipulina). 

The  first  of  these  plants  {Glaucium  luteiim)  is  set  down 
in  Babington 's  Manual  as  a  biennial,  while  in  Bentham 's 
Handbook  it  is  called  an  annual.  In  Colgan's  Flora  of 
Dublin  it  is  pronounced  neither  a  biennial  nor  an  annual, 
but  a  perennial. 

Corydalis  claviculata  is  in  Babington  a  perennial,  in 
Bentham  an  annual.  Mr.  Colgan  here  confirms  Bentham 
and  reverses  Babington,  finding  the  plant  an  annual. 

Sedum  anglicum,  rather  curiously,  is,  on  the  contrary, 
called  an  annual  by  Babington  and  a  perennial  by  Bentham. 
Mr.  Colgan  again  confirms  Bentham  and  finds  the  plant 
a  perennial. 

But  in  the  case  of  Medicago  hipulina  the  two  great 
standard  authorities  are  more  nearly  in  agreement  ;  Babing- 
ton, without  definitely  deciding  which  it  is,  says  "  annual 
or  biennial."  Bentham,  more  confident,  says  "  annual." 
Colgan  here  finds  both  equally  wrong ;  Medicago  lupuUna 
is  a  perennial 

I  don't  think  it  is  possible  to  avoid  seeing  in  the  preceding 
results  that  there  must  be  many  other  cases  that  still  deserve 
inquiry. 

Then  even  such  simple  questions  as  the  flowering  seasons 
of  plants  need  closer  investigation.  One  of  our  members 
(Mr.  Athole  Harrison)  has  within  the  past  two  summers 
brought  me  convincing  evidence  that  the  flowering  season 
of  the  beautiful  Yellow  Mountain  Pansy  {Viola  lutea)  is 
curtailed  to  an  extraordinary  degree  in  all  our  chief  text- 
books, which  describe  the  plant  as  flowering  in  June  and 
July.  Mr.  Harrison  finds  it  in  plenteous  bloom  in  its 
County  Dubhn  haunts  (even  in  a  very  backward  season 
hke  that  of  1922)  during  the  last  ten  days  of  April,  and  as 
he  finds  it  still  out  in  fair  profusion  as  late  as  the  29th  of 
August,  I  feel  no  doubt  that  x\pril  to  September  would 
be  a  better  description  of  the  flowering  season  than  June 

and  July. 

A  2 


24  The  Irish  Naturalist.  March, 

In  County  Wexford  I  have  always  found  that  one  of  the 
earhest  signs  of  approaching  spring — the  spring  that  begins 
a  new  year  before  the  old  year  is  quite  gone — is  the  flowering 
on  the  surface  of  pools  of  the  Greater  Iv^z-leaved  Crowfoot 
{Ranuncidus  Lenormandi)  which  I  almost  invariably  found 
beginning  to  bloom  in  the  last  week  of  December,  so  that 
it  followed  not  long  after  the  leafing  of  the  Honeysuckle 
and  the  singing  of  the  Stormcock.  It  was  always,  in  my 
neighbourhood,  far  in  advance  of  its  small  cousin  Rammculus 
hederaceus.  Yet  I  find  that  the  manuals  make  it  the  later 
of  the  two,  and  begin  the  flowering  season  of  hederaceus 
in  April,  and  that  of  Lenormandi  in  May. 

The  brambles,  which  are  as  impossible  of  investigation 
to  ordinary  mortals  as  the  great  nebula  in  Orion,  have 
still  a  borderland  on  which  it  is  possible  to  touch  ;  and  I 
find  that  the  flowering  seasons  of  the  m±ore  easily  distin- 
guished kinds  differ  to  a  most  extraordinary  degree.  The 
kind  that  is  far  the  most  abundant  in  our  own  limestone 
neighbourhood  [Ruhus  rusticanus,  formerly  called  by  the 
more  suitable  name  discolor)  is  from  four  to  six  weeks  later 
about  coming  into  bloom  than  the  very  different-looking 
kind  (a  form  of  Ruhus  macrophyllus)  that  prevailed  most 
largely  on  the  Silurian  soils  of  north  Wexford,  and  is  also 
common  in  the  more  mountainous  parts  of  County  Dublin 
and  when  we  get  away  from  the  limestone.  I  think  such 
a  difference  as  this  must  be  a  good  mark  of  real  specific 
distinctness.  Yet  in  the  latest  edition  of  Babingtou's 
Manual  I  find  that  the  flowering  seasons  of  all  the  brambles 
— except  a  few  widely  separated  forms — are  set  down  as 
exactly  the  sanie  (July  and  August). 

I  very  much  wish,  too,  that  more  attention  was  paid 
in  our  text-books  to  the  very  attractive  subject  of  the 
scents  of  flowers.  Of  course  we  are  beset  with  the  difficulty 
that  we  cannot  describe  the  scent  of  a  flower  unless  by 
saying  it  is  like  (and  it  is  seldom  exactly  like)  the  scent  of 
something  else.  But  I  confess  that  I  think  it  too  bad 
when  I  find  both  in  Babington's  Manual  and  in  Bentham's 
Handbook  a  distinct  statement  that  that  delightful  little 
flower  the  Marsh  Violet  {Viola  palustris),  has  no  scent. 
They  both  expressly  call  it  scentless.       Evidently  neither 


1923.  Moffat  -Study  of  Common  Wild  Flowers.  25 

of  the  authors  ever  held  a  bouquet  of  it  to  his  nose.  The 
scent  of  a  single  flower  might,  perhaps,  not  be  perceptible. 
But  a  small  bunch  of  Viola  palustris  is  delightfully  fragrant, 
and  the  scent  is,  moreover,  quite  unlike  that  of  any  other 
flower  which  I  have  any  recollection  of  having  smelt. 

While  this  is,  I  think,  the  most  glaring  case  of  a  mis- 
description with  regard  to  smell  that  I  have  come  across, 
it  is  clear  that  very  little  attention  has  been  paid  to  the 
subject  at  all  by  our  principal  standard  authors,  who,  in 
their  descriptions  even  of  strongly  scented  plants,  generally 
omit  to  state  that  they  exhale  odours  of  any  kind.     Neither 
Babington   nor   Bentham   mentions  that   one  of  our   St. 
John's-worts  [Hypericum  Elodes)   smells  strongly  of   curry 
and  that  one  of  our  Bedstraws  (Galium  palustre)  fills  the 
air  with  the  fragrance  of  honey  ;   but  I  regret  to  say  that 
popular  writers  are  very  fond  of  telling  us  that  the  smell 
of  the  Common  and  Water  Figworts  [Scrophularia  nodosa 
and  aquatica)  has  a  striking'resemblance  to  that  of  decaying 
meat,  and  that  the  fondness  of  wasps  for  these  two  flowers 
is  largely  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  deceptive  likeness  in 
their  smell.       I  grant  that  the  smell  of  the  Figworts  is 
extremely   disagreeable  ;   but   except  in   being  disagreeable 
I  can  detect  no  similarity  between  it  and  that  of  flesh  in 
any  condition  or  stage.       Of  course,  it  is  possible  that  my 
nose  may  be  at  fault  in  the  matter.      But  in  any  case  my 
point  is  that  the  whole  subject  of  the  smells  of  flowers  and 
plants  wants  closer  examination,  and  I  think  a  beginning 
might  be  made  by  finding  what  different  species  of  plants 
smell  exactly  ahke,  and  what  others  come  very  near  them 
so  as  to  need  a  keen  nose  to  tell  the  difference.      As  far  as 
I  can  make  out,  there  is  no  difference  between  the  odours 
of  the  two  common  Figworts  ;    but,  I  would  be  delighted 
to  know  that  some  one  else  found  them  to  be  not  perfectly 
the  same,  or  at  least  could  say  that  one  was  a  little  stronger 
than  the  other.       It  would  then  be  of  much  interest  to 
ascertain  to  which  of  the  two  our  third  Dubhn  species, 
Scrophularia  umbrosa,  showed  the  closest  resemblance  in 
regard  to  smell. 

Then  I  need  hardly  say  that  the  study  of  the  habits  or 
economy  of  plants  involves  a  good  deal  of  attention  to  the 


26  The  Irish  Naturalist.  March, 

insects  that  visit  them,  and  a  taking  of  careful  notes  on 
the  conduct  of  the  insects  when  so  engaged.  It  is  true  that 
a  very  large  amount  of  attention  has  already  been  paid  to 
this  subject,  and  volumes  written  upon  it  that  afford 
dehghtful  reading  ;  but  it  is  far  from  being  an  exhausted 
field,  and  I  am  convinced  that  some  of  our  really  common 
flowers  are  still  misunderstood. 

As  an  instance  I  will  mention  the  Rest-harrow  [Ononis 
repens) ,  which  is  common  enough  about  Dublin  to  be  within 
nearly  everybody's  range  of  study.  Of  this  plant  you 
will  find  it  stated  in  Lord  Avebury's  fascinating  little  book 
"  British  Wild  Flowers  considered  in  relation  to  Insects," 
that  it  secretes  no  honey,  but  is  visited  by  bees  for  the 
purpose  of  collecting  the  pollen,  which,  of  course,  is  brought 
home  to  the  nest  to  make  bee-bread  for  the  young.  Now 
Lord  Avebur^^  of  course,  had  good  authority  for  the  state- 
ment he  has  made,  and  I  am  not  aware  that  it  has  ever 
been  contradicted.  But  I  have  notes  of  seeing  the  Rest- 
harrow  visited  in  Coiinty  Wexford  by  large  numbers  of 
male  bumble-bees  of  more  than  one  species  ;  and  as  it  is 
certain  that  the  males  of  this  family  of  insects  do  not  coUect 
pollen,  or  take  any  part  in  the  bringing  home  of  food  for 
the  young,  I  find  it  very  difficult  to  reconcile  their  evident 
fondness  for  the  flowers  of  the  Rest-harrow^  with  what 
seems  to  be  the  received  opinion  that  it  does  not  secrete 
honey. 

However,  in  my  perplexity  I  turned  again  to  Lord 
Avebury,  and  found  that  I  had  not  been  the  first  observer 
of  this  peculiar  fact — the  fact  of  the  Rest-harrow  being 
sometimes  visited  by  male  bees.  It  had  been  observed 
by  Miiller,  the  great  German  authority  on  the  subject  of 
cross-pollination  in  the  plant -world  by  insect  agency  ;  and 
Muller's  explanation  is  that  the  male  bees  go  to  the  Rest- 
harrow  by  mistake,  "  in  a  vain  search  for  honey."  Now 
here  we  have  an  explanation  that  might  do  very  well  if 
the  visits  were  occasional  ;  but  I  am  bound  to  say  that  it 
does  not  fit  the  circumstances  of  the  visits  observed  by  me 
in  a  little  field  in  County  Wexford  where  I  was  observing 
the  habits  of  bees  on  several  days  in  August,  1919. 

In  this  little  field  Ononis  repens  was  growing  abundantly. 


1923.  Moffat — Study  of  Common  Wild  Flowers.  27 

and  with  it,  in  equal  profusion,  another  plant  that  is  cer- 
tainly much  liked  by  the  males  of  every  species  of  bumble- 
bee— the  Black  Knapweed  {Centaurea  nigra).  Generally, 
in  my  neighbourhood,  I  found  the  Black  Knapweed  not 
merely  a  favourite  flower,  but  the  favourite  flower,  of  male 
bumble-bees  of  most  kinds.  But  in  this  field  where  the 
Rest-harrow  also  occurred  the  bulk  of  the  bees  kept  away 
from  the  Knapweed,  and  kept  on  regularly  passing  from 
flower  to  flower  of  the  species  that  Miiller  says  they  only 
go  to  by  mistake.  I  even  saw  one  male  Bombus  agrorum 
make  what  seemed  to  be  a  mistake — dart  at  a  head  of  Knap- 
weed (the  colours  of  the  two  flowers  being  somewhat  similar), 
but  turn  away  in  disgust  on  finding  that  the  flower  it  was 
making  for  was  only  Knapweed  and  not  the  Rest-harrow. 

Now%  I  ask,  is  it  credible  that  all  these  bees  were 
idiotically  passing  the  long  day  in  a  continued  vain  search 
for  hone}/  in  flowers  that  contained  none,  and  in  the  midst 
of  a  forest  of  flowers  of  another  kind,  which  they  knew 
to  contain  honey  exactly  to  their  liking  ? 

But  we  cannot  say  that  the  Rest-harrow^  does  secrete 
nectar  till  the  nectar  has  been  found.  I  am  only  pleading 
for  research  into  the  subject.  Readers  of  Darwin's  "  Fer- 
tilisation of  Orchids  "  are  aware  that  for  a  long  time  many 
of  our  common  Orchises  {maculata,  Morio  and  pyramidalis 
amongst  others)  were  supposed  to  secrete  no  nectar,  and 
to  be  visited  by  bees  only  on  a  mistaken  quest  ;  but  it  was 
ultimately  found  that  the  bees  knew  well  enough  how  to 
get  at  the  fluid  they  were  in  quest  of  by  puncturing  the 
inner  membrane  of  the  nectary  that  contained  it.  If  any 
similar  discovery  has  since  been  made  about  the  Rest- 
harrow  I  have  never  seen  it  mentioned.  I  can  only  say 
that  to  me  this  plant  is  quite  a  conundrum. 

At  any  rate,  I  feel  sure  that  inquiry  into  these  and 
similar  questions  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest,  and  to  elicit 
results  that  will  give  us  an  increased  sense  of  the  harmony 
of  nature. 

Dublin. 


?8  The  Irish  Naturalist.  March; 

IRISH      SPHAGNA. 

BY   WILLIAM    A.    LEP:. 

The  list  of  Irish  Sphagna  pubhshed  in  the  Irish 
Naturalist  for  February,  1922,  can  now  be  supplemented 
by  further  records  which  have  become  available.  They 
include  some  kindly  placed  at  my  disposal  and  a  few  which 
resulted  from  my  own  gatherings,  mainly  in  the  counties 
of  Dublin  and  Wicklow  last  year.  In  all  cases  the  speci- 
mens have  been  examined  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Wheldon,  M.Sc, 
to  whom  I  am  under  much  obligation.  The  records  are 
additions  to  the  botanical  divisions  indicated  and,  where 
an  asterisk  appears,  the  name  was  not  included  in  my 
previous  list  : — 

S.   limbriatum  Wils.     var.   tenue   Grav.     37   (Hunter). 
S.  Russowii  W.     var.  *rhodochroum  Russ.    34  (Hunter). 
S.  plumulosum  Roll,  emend.  W.   var.  viride  ¥/.  f .  *laxum 
W.     21  (Lee).     38  (Lee). 

var.  coerulescens  Schlieph.     c.  frt.     8  (Armitage). 
var.  purpureum  W.     37  (Hunter), 
var.  versicolor  W.     C.  frt.     8  (Armitage). 
f.  validum  W.     20  (Lee).     37  (Hunter), 
f.  tenellum  W.     20   (Lee).     21   (Lee), 
f.  *ascendens  W.     20  (Lee).     37  (Hunter), 
var.  flavofuscescens  W.     c.  frt.     8  (Armitage). 
var.   ochraceum   W.     f.   immersum   W.      20    (Lee). 
21  (Lee). 

f.   *congestum  W.     c.   frt.     21    (Lee). 
S.  cuspidatum  Ehrh.     var.  falcatum  Russ.     f.  molle  W. 
sub-f.  *tenellum  W.     21  (Lee). 

var.  plumosum  vSchimp.   f.  *remotumW.   29(Tetley). 
S.  molluscum  Bruch.       var.  vulgatum  W.       f.  *com- 
pactum  W.     37  (Hunter). 

S.  inundatum  R.  et  W.  var.  ovalifolium  W.  f.  brachy- 
cladum  W.      21  (Lee). 

f.  *brach3^anocladum  W.      20  (Lee), 
f.  densum  W.     21   (Lee). 


1923.  Lee    Irish  Sphagna. 


29 


S.  auriculatum  Schimp.      var.  *tenellum  W.      21  (Lee), 
var.  ovatuin  W.      f.  ==^brachycladum  W.     A  starved 
state.     21  (Lee). 

f.  *pallidoflavum  W.      21  (Lee), 
f.  variegatum  W.     21  (Lee). 
var.  *cano-virescens  W.      20  (Lee).      21  (Lee). 
S.  crassicladum  W.       var.  diversifolium  W.      f.  *inun- 
datum  W.      37  (Hunter). 

vS.  rufescens  Nees  et  Hornsch.        var.  magnifolium  W. 
f.  *rufidulum  W.     A  small  starved  state.     21  (Lee), 
sub-f.  densiramosum  W.     ^y  (Hunter). 
S.  papillosum  Lindb.      var.  normale  W.      c.  frt.        8 
(Armitage) . 

f.  confertum  W.     34  (Hunter). 
S.  cymbifolium  Ehrh.  var.  glaucescens  W.  8  (Armitage). 
var.  pallescens  W.     21  (Lee). 

f.  confertum  Wheld.     21  (Lee), 
var.  fuscescens  W.     c.  frt.     8  (Armitage).     21  (Lee). 

Rock  Ferry,  Cheshire. 


IRISH    SOCIETIES. 

DUBLIN    MICROSCOPICAL    CLUB. 

January  io.' — W.  F.  Gunn  drew  the  attention  of  members  to  an 
extremely  portable  microscope  which  he  had  recently  acquired.  - 

The  instrument  is  made  by  Swift  and  Sons,  London,  and  by  an  ingenious 
method  of  folding  is  made  to  pack  into  a  leather  case  measuring  only 
7i  by  3 J  by  3|-  inches. 

Although  occupying  so  small  a  space  when  packed,  it  is  steady  enough 
to  admit  of  the  use  of  the  highest  powers,  and  is  fitted  with  double  nose- 
piece,  coarse  and  fine  adjustments,  stage  condenser  and  a  graduated 
drawi:ube  adjustable  to  any  length  between  the  limits  of  100  and  200  mm. 

BELFAST  NATURALISTS'  FIELD  CLUB. 

January  16. • — R.  J.  W'elch  read  a  paper  on  "  The  Zoology  and  Botany 
of  Heraldic  Charges  and  Ladies'  Book-plates."  A  discussion  followed, 
after  which  eight  members  and  two  junior  member-^  were  elected. 


30  The  Irish  Naturalist.  March, 

NOTES. 

ZOOLOGY. 
Sleeping:  Habits  of  the  Tree-Creeper. 

The  account  given  by  Mr.  Nevin  Foster  in  the  January  number  (pp.  1-2) 
of  the  sleeping  habits  of  this  species  as  observed  by  him  at  Hillsborough 
is  of  extraordinary  interest  ;  but  I  do  not  find  that  in  parts  of  the  country 
where  Sequoia  gigantea  happens  not  to  be  an  abundant  tree  the  Tree- 
Creeper  considers  it  necessary  to  excavate  hollows  in  which  to  pass  the 
night.  In  Co,  Wexford  it  sometimes  resorted  to  natural  crevices.  At 
Ballyhyland  I  frequently  observed  a  bird  of  this  species  retiring  at  dusk 
into  a  crevice  between  th(  bark  and  the  trunk  of  an  old  and  decaying 
Ash,  which  grew  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away  from  the  nearest 
Wellingtonia,  and  so  would  appear  to  have  been  preferred  by  the  Creeper. 
A  still  more  common  roosting.place  is  probably  against  the  trunk  of  any 
rough-barked  tree,  and  this  is  the  kind  of  situation  in  which  the  bird  is 
described  as  passing  the  night  by  Mr.  T.  A.  Coward,  in  his  admirable  little 
two- volume  work  "  The  Birds  of  the  British  Isles  and  their  Eggs  " 
(1919-20). 

C.  B.  Moffat. 
Dublin. 

Sandwich  Terns  at  Rosslare,  Co.  Wexford. 

On  September  21,  1922,  I  met  with  a  party  of  Sandwich  Terns  resting 
on  the  sands  at  Rosslare,  Co.  Wexford.  By  cutting  through  the  sandhills 
I  succeeded  in  getting  within  about  twenty  yards  of  them  and  watched 
them  for  quite  half  an  hour.  There  were  21  birds  in  the  party  on  the 
sands  and  three  or  four  other  terns  were  fishing  some  little  way  out  to 
sea,  but  I  cannot  say  definitely  that  these  were  Sandwich  Terns,  though 
from  their  size  I  judged  them  so,  and  one,  which  came  ashore  and  joined 
the  others,  certainly  belonged  to  this  species.  Fortunately^  there  were 
few  people  about  that  afternoon,  so  the  birds  were  not  disturbed  much, 
though  indeed  they  did  not  seem  to  mind  unless  the  passers-by  came 
close,  when  they  circled  out  over  the  sea  for  a  few  minutes  and  then 
returned  each  time  to  almost  the  same  spot  on  the  sands.  In  the  end 
they  all  rose  and  flew  leisurely  along  the  sands  towards  Ballygeary  (Ross- 
lare Harbour).  This  was  the  only  occasion  on  which  I  met  with  the 
species  there,  though  I  had  been  constantly  on  the  sands  all  the  summer 
from  June  to  the  end  of  September.  Either  Common  or  Arctic  Terns 
were  frequent  up  to  the  second  week  in  September,  but  none  were  about 
the  day  I  met  with  the  Sandwich  Terns. 

W,  M.  Abbott. 
Fermoy 


1923.  Notes,  31 


Recent    Records    of    Irish     Birds, 

In  "  British  Birds  "  for  January,  1923,  L.  J.  Turtle  records  the  visit 
in  April  last  of  a  Spoonbill  to  Achill  Island  ;  C.  V.  Stoney  reports  the 
finding  of  a  clutch  of  seven  eggs  in  a  Ro.ok's  nest  in  Co.  Donegal. 

Among  Irish  bird  records  of  the  past  two  years  probably  the  most 
important  is  Mr.  C.  J.  Carroll's  detailed  account  (Brit.  Birds,  1921,  pp, 
209-10)  of  the  evidence  collected  by  himself  and  Mr.  Williams  in  proof 
of  the  breeding  in  at  least  two  seasons  of  the  Black-necked  Grebe  in  the 
west  of  Ireland.  In  the  same  volume  Mr.  Carroll  gives  "  Notes  for  the 
seasons  191 8- 19-20  on  the  Irish  colonies  of  Sandwich  and  Roseate  Terns 
discovered  in  1917"  (vol.  xiv.,  pp.  253-6),  and  also  (p.  215)  draws  attention 
to  an  "  Unacceptable  Record  of  the  Long-tailed  Duck  breeding  in 
Ireland."  Mr.  Witherby,  in  some  "  Notes  on  British  Records  of  the 
Spotted  Eagle  '  \pp.  180-2)  indicates  the  need  for  careful  examination 
of  the  Irish -killed  specimen  preserved  in  Trinity  College  Museum. 
Lt.-Col.  H.  A.  F.  Magrath  (vol.  xv.  p.  154)  describes  an  east-to-west 
migration  observed  by  him  across  the  Irish  Sea  during  a  passage  to 
Holyhead  on  November  7th,  1921.  The  question  of  the  "  Former 
Breeding  of  the  Osprey  in  Ireland,"  raised  by  the  Rev.  F.  L.  Blathwayt 
(1922,  p.  192),  is  discussed  by  H,  Kirke  Swann  (p.  220)  and  G.  R, 
Humphreys  (p.  243).  Two  occurrences  of  the  American  Bittern  in 
October,  192 1,  are  the  subject  of  a  note  by  Mr.  Wilham.s  (p.  212)  ;  Mr. 
E.  G.  Hope- Johnstone  (p.  272)  reports  havmg  seen  a  pair  of  Black-necked 
Grebes  at  Malahide  in  January  and  February,  1922  ;  and  an  account 
of  the  "  Failure  of  the  Malahide  Tern  Colony  "  in  June  last  is  given  by 
Lt.-Col.  Magrath  (vol.  xvi.,  pp.  168-170. 


BOTANY. 

Colour-Variation    in    Cowslip    and    Primrose. 

Mr.  :\Iiller  Christy,  who  is  making  detailed  studies  of  some  of  the 
British  species  of  Primula,  writes  me  relative  to  the  red-flowered  forms 
of  the  Cowslip  and  Primrose.  He  says  that  the  distribution  of  these 
forms  is  quite  peculiar  :  they  are  found  in  the  eastern  and  western  parts 
of  the  plant's  range,  but  ^re  apparently  absent  from  the  whole  central 
portion.  Red  Primroses,  for  instance,  occur  in  abundance  only  in  western 
Britain,  France,  and  Spain  on  the  one  hand,  and  in  Greece,  Turkey,  the 
Caucasus,  &c.,  on  th.e  other.  He  csks  for  information  about  the  range 
of  red  Primroses  and  Cowslips  in  Ireland,  concerning  which  all  our  Floras 
are  silent,  since  colour-variation  has  not  usually  been  considered  worthy 


$2  The  Irish  Naturalist.  March,.  1923. 

of  record.  He  also  asks — "  How  do  they  occur  ?  Are  they  sporadic 
(a  few  plants  here  and  there  among  a  much  larger  number  of  the  normal 
colouration),  or  are  they  locally  abuvdarJ  (a  large  number  of  plants 
together  in  certain  special  localities)  ?  And,  if  the  latter  is  the  case, 
what  is  the  nature  (elevation,  soil,  &c.)  of  these  localities  ?  Also  is  there 
any  noticeable  increase  in  the  number  of  such  localities  as  one  proceeds 
westward  ?  (Such  is  the  case  in  Britain,  reaching  a  climax  in  Cornwall, 
Pembrokeshire,  &c.)."  I  have  been  able  to  give  Mr.  Christy  very  httle 
definite  information,  as,  though  often  found,  I  never  took  notes  of  these 
forms.      Perhaps  some  of  the  readers  of  the  Irish  Naturalist  can  help. 

R.  Lloyd  Praeger. 
Dublin. 


Erica    stricta    in    Antrim    and    Derry. 

At  a  Dublin  flower  shoAv  two  3'ears  ago  I  was  told  by  the  representative 
of  the  Donard  Nursery,  Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  that  they  had  recently 
received  cuttings  of  a  supposed  hybrid  heath  which  had  been  found  near 
the  Sallagh  Braes,  above  Larne.  The  head  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Coey,  had 
noticed  the  heath  in  a  Larne  garden,  and  on  enquiry  had  been  told  that 
its  origin  was  as  mentioned  above.  Recently  I  received  a  young  plant 
of  it  from  the  nursery,  by  the  kindness  of  Col.  Berry,  and  it  turns  out 
to  be  typical  Erica  stricta  Don,  a  plant  of  Southern  Europe,  well  known 
in  gardens.  I  should  have  been  inclined  to  attribute  the  record  to  an 
error  due  to  a  confusion  of  labelling  in  the  Larne  garden  were  it  not  that 
Miss  Leebody  has  sent  a  specimen  of  a  heath  found  by  her  (one  clump) 
at  Downhill  in  Co.  Derry  last  September  which,  though  not  so  characteristic 
in    growth,   Miss    Knowles    and    I  agree    in  referring  also  to  E.  stricta. 

The  discovery  of  a  second  station  for  the  plant  might  be  held  to 
strengthen  greatly  the  case  for  its  being  native  here,  and,  of  course,  the 
most  remarkable  feature  in  the  Irish  flora  is  the  occurrence  of  a  number 
of  South  European  species.  But  these  plants  are  characteristic  of  the 
milder  parts  of  Ireland,  not  of  the  North-east,  where  southern  species 
reach  their  Irish  minimum,  and  northern  species  their  maximum.  Besides 
we  have  no  evidence  at  present  of  the  occurrence  of  more  than  a  single 
plant  in  each  station,  although  heaths  are  mostly  distinctly  gregarious 
in  their  distribution.  I  think  we  must  look  on  the  plant  as  an  extremely 
doubtful  addition  to  our  flora  :  it  seems  to  me  most  probable  that  some 
person  has  been  trjdng  his  hand  at  naturalisation — a  thing  unworthy  of 
any  trye  naturalist,  especially  if  he  fails  to  mitigate  his  falsification  of 
nature's  record  by  publishing  the   facts. 

R.  Lloyd  Praeger. 
Dublin. 


I 


April.  1923.  The  Irish  Naturahst.  33 

IS    THE    SQUIRREL    A    NATIVE    OF 

IRELAND  ? 

BY    C.    B.    MOFFAT,    B.A. 

As  Dr.  Scharff  and  Mr.  Le  Fanu  have  recently  pointed  out 
in  this  Journal  (vol.  xxxi,  pp.  51-4  and  83-4),  there  is  now 
unquestioned  proof  of  Squirrels  having  inhabited  Ireland 
in  historical  times,  long  before  the  period  at  which  they 
began  to  be  introduced  ;  and  the  fact  of  their  having 
survived  and  furnished  skins  for  wholesale  exportation 
down  to  at  least  the  closing  years  of  the  17th  century  has 
not  unnaturally  prompted  the  question  whether  they  may 
not  in  some  of  the  better-wooded  parts  of  the  country  have 
continued  to  hold  their  own  until  replantation  of  demesnes 
encouraged  them  once  more  to  spread  and  become  common. 
The  case  for  this  view  is  briefly  stated  by  Dr.  Scharli,  where 
he  observes  that  "  in  the  i8th  century  there  still  existed 
large  woods  scattered  about  the  country  in  which  a  few 
Squirrels  may  have  survived." 

My  object  in  contributing  a  few  words  on  this  subject 
is  not  to  dispute  the  possibility  of  such  survival  having 
taken  place,  but  to  adduce  what  I  regard  as  a  strong  reason 
for  believing  that  the  Squirrels  which  now  inhabit  Ireland 
— or  at  any  rate  the  eastern  part  of  our  island — are  des- 
cended only  from  imported  animals. 

In  that  part  of  County  Wexford  in  which  most  of  my 
own  field-studies  have  been  carried  on,  there  still  stands 
a  considerable  expanse  of  old  natural  wood — the  remains 
of  the  once  celebrated  Killoughrim  Forest — which  retains 
to  the  present  day  many  of  the  characteristics  of  almost 
undisturbed  virgin  ground.  It  differs  from  the  surrounding 
country  not  only  in  the  absence  of  introduced  timber,  but 
also  in  being  a  home  of  such  local  and  interesting  inmates 
as  the  Brown  Hairstreak  [Zephyrus  betulce)  and  Dingy 
Skipper  {Thanaos  tages)  butterflies,  the  large  Wood  Ant 
{Formica  rufa),  and  the  great  heath-haunting  spider  [Epeira 
quadrata),  none  of  which  are  to  be  found  (unless  by  rare 

A 


34  The  Irish  Naturalist.  April, 

accident)  in  any  of  the  other  woods  with  which  the  neigh- 
bourhood is  fairly  well  stocked. 

The  trees  of  this  old  wood  are  of  the  species  that  probably 
compose  nearly  all  the  old  natural  forests  of  Ireland — 
chiefly  Oak  and  Birch,  with  some  Aspens,  and  a  flourishing 
undergrowth  of  Hazel,  Holly,  Blackthorn  and  Guelder- 
Rose,  with  Willow  {Salix  cinerea)  and  Alder  in  the  damper 
parts.  Ash  is  almost,  though  not  entirely  absent  ;  the 
Mountain-Ash  turns  up  here  and  there,  and  this  probably 
completes  the  list.  There  are,  of  course,  no  conifers  ;  the 
Beech  is  also  a  conspicuous  absentee. 

Squirrels  first  made  their  appearance  at  Ballyhyland 
(which  is  less  than  a  mile  distant  from  Killoughrim)  in  the 
summer  of  1890,  and  within  a  very  few  years  became  so 
abundant  that  one  could  scarcely  pass  through  a  plantation 
anywhere  in  the  neighbourhood  without  seeing  or  hearing 
several,  while  the  marks  of  their  feeding  were  still  more 
constantly  in  evidence.  I  rem.ember  on  one  occasion 
(November  4th,  1901)  counting  forty  in  sight  together 
all  on  the  ground,  apparently  seeking  fungi. 

There  was  only  one  wood  in  all  the  surrounding  country 
in  which  I  never  saw  them  ;  and  that  was  the  old  Forest 
of  Killoughrim,  of  which  they  steadfastly  refused  to  take 
possession. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  forest  contained  plenty 
of  feeding  tlmt  might  have  been  thought  attractive  enough 
to  Squirrels.  It  was  almost  the  only  w^ood  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood in  which  hazel-nuts  wxre  abundant  ;  acorns 
were  nowhere  else  to  be  had  in  anything  like  the  same 
quantity,  and  toadstools  of  many  kinds  were  as  plentiful 
as  Squirrels  could  wish,  while  of  such  minor  dainties  as 
berries  and  oak-galls,  readily  eaten  in  most  of  the  other 
woods,  there  was  no  lack.  But  the  absence  of  Pine,  Fir, 
Larch  and  Beech  would  seem  to  have  decided  the  Squirrels 
to  have  absolutely  nothing  to  do  with  the  one  bit  of  real 
old  Irish  woodland  that  presented  itself  to  their  choice. 
Every  other  grove — almost  every  bit  of  timbered  ground — 
had  its  attractions  ;  but  Killoughrim  the^^  would  not  enter. 
And  yet  it  is  in  woods  almost  identical  in  character  with 
Killoughrim  that  the  old  Irish  Squirrels  must  be  presumed 


1923-  Moffat    Is  t/ie  Squirrel  a  Xativc  of  I relcuid}  35 

to  have  maintained  their  existence  (if  they  did  maintain 
it)  from  the  time  when  the  bulk  of  our  native  forests  were 
felled  until  introduced  trees  began  to  be  planted. 

I  think  this  remarkable  boycotting  of  Killoughrim  is 
almost  conclusive  evidence  that  the  Squirrels  now  inhabiting 
County  Wexford  are  not  the  descendants  of  animals  whose 
natural  home  was  in  the  old  Irish  woods. 

Dublin. 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  NOTES  FROM  ROSTREVOR. 

BY    REV.    W.    F.    JOHNSON,    M.A. 

I  ARRIVED  in  Rostrevor  in  the  middle  of  Juno,  1922,  and 
owing  to  the  exigencies  of  moving,  unpacking  and  settlmg 
down,  I  Vv'as  unable  to  do  much  at  entomology,  and  the 
wet  summer  added  to  my  difficulties.  In  fact  I  did  very 
little  till  August. 

I  saw  the  Humming-bird  Hawk- moth  {Macroglossa 
stellatarum)  early  in  June,  first  in  Warrenpoint  and  then 
in  Dr.  Evans's  garden  at  Kilkeel.  I  did  not  see  it  at 
Rostrevor.  Hecatera  screna  was  found  sitting  on  a  wall 
on  the  roadside  in  the  early  evening.  I  took  it  at  Portnoo, 
Co.  Donegal,  in  1918.^  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
recorded  from  Co.  Down  before.  I  was  very  pleased  to 
get  Amphipyra  pyramidea,  as  I  had  not  met  with  it  before, 
and  it  is  rare  in  Northern  Ireland.  Mr.  Thos.  Greer  records 
it  from  Co.  Tyrone.^  The  specimen  I  secured  is  smaller 
than  those  I  have  from  Co.  Waterford. 

Cirrhcedia  xerampelina  I  found  sitting  in  my  study 
windov/,  to  which  it  had  probably  been  attracted  by  light 
the  night  before. 

Of  Coleoptera  I  have  only  two  species  to  record,  but 
this  is  easily  accounted  ior  by  the  fact  that  I  was  not  looking 
for  them.  I  was  a  little  surprised  to  find  Girammoptcra 
riificornis  on  Hogweed.  I  had  met  with  it  at  Poyntzpass 
on  Giant  Spiraea  and  on  Hawthorn. 

Nearly  all  my  captures  of  Hymenoptera  and  Dipt  era 

^  Irish    Naturalist,    xxviii.    19.  ^  Irish  Naturalist,  xxviii,   118. 

A  2 


36  The  Irish  Naturalist  April, 

were  made  in  August  and  in  Victoria  Square.  The 
Aculeatar,  and  indeed  the  other  famihes  also,  suffered 
from  the  wet  season,  and  I  got  but  few.  It  was  of  course 
too  late  for  most  of  the  Sawflies,  but  Allantus  arcuatus 
was  as  usual  very  plentiful  and  obtrusive,  shoving  other 
insects  aside  on  the  umbels  of  Hogweed  and  Ragweed, 
and  fighting  with  each  other  after  their  amiable  manner. 

I  netted  Sirex  gigas  (female)  in  a  street  of  Rostrevor, 
as  it  hovered  at  the  name-board  of  a  shop.  The  wood 
was  of  course  the  attraction,  but  I  could  not  help  wondering 
at  it  wasting  its  time  there  when  there  was  so  much  more 
suitable  timber  within  easy  reach. 

Athalia  lineolata  does  not  seem  to  mind  what  elevation 
it  is  at,  for  I  took  it  at  practically  sea-level  and  high  up  on 
the  mountain-side. 

None  of  the  Aculeates  were  plentiful  and  I  was  fortunate 
in  securing  a  specimen  of  Andrena  deniiculata,  a  handsome 
bee  which  I  had  only  met  with  at  Coolmore.^  There  were 
so  few  suitable  days  that  I  got  very  few  Ichneumon  Flies. 
I  took  a  male  Ichneumon  sarcitorius  with  the  apical  bands 
of  the  abdominal  segments  nearly  as  white  as  those  of 
Swedish  specimens  kindl}/  sent  to  me  by  Dr.  A.  Roman. 
I  took  I.  caloscelis  in  my  little  garden,  crawhng  on  the  earth. 
It  is  a  male  and  much  larger  than  usual,  so  much  so  that 
I  supposed  it  to  be  /.  primatorius,  but  examination  showed 
it  to  be  only  this  very  common  species.  Glypta  hiforeolata 
is  also  much  above  the  usual  size,  which  is  given  by  Morley'^ 
as  4—6  mm.,  and  by  Thomson^  as  if— 2J  lines,  whereas 
my  specimens  are  8—9  mm.  I  was  so  puzzled  that  I 
sent  specimens  to  Dr.  Roman  who  most  kindly  examined 
them  and  informed  me  they  were  a  large  form  of  this  species. 

Unless  otherwise  stated  the  locality  for  my  captures 
is  Victoria  Square,  which  at  present  (and  long  may  it  con- 
tinue so)  is  a  field  with  houses  on  two  sides,  close  to  my 
own  house  and  just  the  place  in  soil  and  herbage  to  attract 
Hymenoptera. 


^  Irish  Naturalist,  xxvii.  3. 

^  British  Ichneumons,  iii,   166.         ^  Opuscula  Entomologica  xiii,  1,342. 


i9'-'3-  Jowi^soisi— Entomological  Notes  from  Rostrevor. 


37 


LEPIDOPTERA. 

Hecatera  serena. — July  on  wall  by  roadside. 

Hydraecia   nictltans   var.    erythrostigma. — September,    light. 

Amphipyra  pyramidea. — October,  light, 

Cirrhaedia  xerampelina. — September,  in  window. 

Calocampa  exoleta,  ^ 

Cheimatobia  brumata,  > November,  light. 

Himera  pennaria,  J 

COLEOPTERA. 

Geotrupes  sylvatlcus  Panz. — July,  in  wood. 
Grammoptera  ruficornis  F. — August. 


DIPTERA. 

Sargus  bipunctatus  Scop. 
Melanostoma  ambignum,  Fallen. 
Syrphus  ribesii,  L. 
S.  umbellatarum,  Fat. 
Xanthogramma  ornatum  Meigen. 
Eristalis  intricarius,  L. 
Sericorayia  borealis,  Fallen. 
Chrysotoxum  bicinctum,  L. — July. 


>■  August. 


HYMENOPTERA. 


ACULEATA. 


August,  in  study  window. 


^August. 


Pompilus  gibbus,  F. 

Pemphredon  lugubris,  Latr. 

Passaloecus  monilicornis  Dhlb. 

Vespa  sylvestris  Scop. 

Sphecodes  niger  V.  Hag. 

Siaffinis  V.  Hag. 

Hallctus  rubicundus  Chr. 

H.  albipes  K. 

Andrena  denticulata  K. 

A.  saundersella  Perkins 

Bombus  hortorum  L. — Taken  in  window. 

Tenthredinidae. 

Sirex  gigas  L. — In  street,  \ 

Pachynematus  trisignatus  Foerst,— Hogweed,  J  July. 

P.  clitellatus  Lep.— Hogweed,  August. 

Athalia  lineolata  Lep.— On  mountain,  July  ;    at  Hogweed,  August. 

Allantus  arcuatus  Foerst.— Hogweed,   July,  August. 

Var.  nitidior  Knw.— August. 


38  The  Irish  Naturalist.  Apnl, 

ICHNEUMONIDAE. 

Ichneumon  sarcitorius  L. — July,  August. 
I.  latrator  F,  \july, 

I.  caloscelis  Wesm.  J  garden.  ^• 

Spilichneumon  occisorius  Gr. — September. 
Amblyteles  armatorius  Foerst. — August. 
Colpognathus  divisus  Thorns. — In  window,   July. 

Microcryptus  nigrocinctus  Gr. — Road  to  Warrenpoint  on  grass,  Septem- 
ber. 
Glyphichnemis  vagabunda  Gr. — July. 
G.  brevis  Gr.  "j 

Goniocryptus  titillator  L.  > August. 

Glypta  genalis  jMoll. 
G.  biforveolata  Gr. 


Lissonota  bellator  Gr.  "^ 

j^Augi 


L.  variipes  Desv.,  July.  ^August. 

L.  variabilis  Hlgr.  J 

Polyclistus  mansuetor  Gr. — August,  September,  in  window. 

Tryphon  vulgaris  Hlgr. — July. 

Polyblastus  variitarsus  Gr. — September. 

Sagaritis  punctata  Bridg. — The  Lodge  demesne,  July. 

Ophion  calcaratura  Morley  \To  light  jn  house,  October. 

Paniscus  gracllipes  Thorns. 


^To  ligl 


Braconidae. 

Apanteles  falcator  Nees. — Field,      ^July. 
Microgaster  tibialis  Nees.  f 

Rostrevor. 

REVIEW. 

Memoir   and    Map    of   Localities    of    Minerals    of  Economic  Importance 

and  Metalliferous  Mines  in  Ireland.  (Memoirs  of  the  Geological 
Survey  of  Ireland).  By  Grenville  A.  J.  Cole,  F.R.S.,  M.R.I. A. 
8vo.  pp.  155.    Dublin  :    Stationery  Office,  1922.     Price  7s.  6d.  net. 

This  is  a  plain  unvarnished  enumeration  and  description  of  all  Irish  mines, 
etc.,  which  have  produced  minerals  and  metalliferous  ores.  A  mine  has 
been  defined  somewhere  as  a  hole  in  the  ground,  often  owned  by  a  liar  ; 
and  in  view  of  the  frequent  exaggeration  v/hich  has  been  often  indulged 
in  concerning  Irish  mineral  resources,  whether  prompted  by  enthusiasm, 
ignorance  or  cupidity,  this  judicial  treatment  of  the  subject  considerably 
enhances  the  value  of  the  work.  A  chaptei  is  devoted  to  each  of  the  more 
important  minerals,  arranged  alphabetically,  and  under  each  mineral 
the  mines  or  quarries  where  it  has  been  at  any  tirre  obtained  are  set  down 
with  much  historical  detail,  commencing  in  the  case  of  gold  with  a  reference 


1923.  Reviews.  3g 

which  dates  back  to  1436.  The  literature  of  the  subject  has  been  con- 
sulted very  fully,  and  authority  is  given  for  all  quoted  statements.  In 
addition,  geological  and  niineralogical  information  is  added  a-  required 
^o  make  the  matters  dealt  with  CviTiprehcnsiblc  to  the  layman,  and 
references  to  the  Ordnance  Maps  make  it  easy  to  locate  places  dealt  with. 
A  short  Introduction  deals  with  the  progress  and  knowledge  of  Irish 
mines  and  minerals  from  early  times  to  the  present. 

A  large  map,  excellently  printed  as  regards  detail,  accompanies  tlie 
Memoir.  On  it  the  areas  covered  by  bog,  whether  mountain  or  low-level, 
arc  coloured  in  pale  red,  giving  a  very  marked  character  to  tlie  map.  The 
few  coal  areas  are  shaded  black,  and  the  various  mines  are  shown  by 
bright  red  dots,  follov.'cd  by  their  name  and  an  indication  by  chemical 
signs  of  the  nature  of  the  minerals  which  they  yield.  All  railways  and 
canals  are  also  clearly  shown. 

Now  when  the  development  of  Irish  industries  is  coming  so  much  to 
the  fore,  this  Memoir  and  Map  should  be  invaluable  as  indicating  both 
the  possibilities  and  limitations  of  our  mineral  resources. 

R.  LI.  P. 


NOTES, 

BOTANY. 

A  Hybrid  Sedge  new  to  Co.  Dublin. 

Owing  to  the  prevalence  of  the  two  sedges  Carex  flava  and  C. 
Hornschuchiana  in  Glenasmole  I  have  frequently  looked  for  their  hybrid, 
known  as  C.  xanthocarpa  Degl.,  but  unsuccessfully.  In  June,  1922, 
however,  I  found  a  nice  patch  growing  with  both  the  parents  in  the  meadow 
between  the  steam-tram  line  and  the  S.E.  corner  of  the  lower  Brittas 
pond.  When  dried  C.  xanthocarpa  is  very  like  a  starved  specimen  of 
C.  Hornschuchiana,  but  Miss  Knowles,  v.'ho  has  verified  my  specimen, 
pointed  out  that  the  female  spikelets  are  pointed  in  the  former  and  blunt 
in  the  latter.  In  the  field,  on  the  other  hand,  C.  xanthocarpa  had  all 
the  appearance  of  a  hybnd,  rUfifering  completely  in  its  general  colouring 
from  r.  ITornschitchiana,  and  in  its  taller  spikes  and  more  distant  spikelets 
from  C.  tiaua.  As  in  other  hybrid  sedges  the  fruits  were  all  abortive  : 
one  which  looked  to  contain  a  mature  seed  wps  found  to  shelter  instead 
a  small  insect  larva . 

A.  W.  Stelfox. 
Rathgar,    Dublin. 


40  The  Irish  Naturalist.  April, 

ZOOLOGY. 

Raven  in  Co.  Wexford. 

About  three  months  ago  two  birds  made  their  appearance  on  the  sand- 
hills here  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour.  The  writer's  attention  was  first 
attracted  by  the  "  croak  "  which  they  uttered,  which  is  quite  unlike  the 
cry  of  the  Hoodie,  a  very  common  bird  here.  Further  observation  showed 
them  to  be  Ravens.  They  are  very  shy  and  wary,  but  their  large  size  and 
"  social  aloofness  "  are  very  noticeable.  When  flying  in  a  wind  they  seem 
to  let  themselves  go  with  an  abandon  quite  unlike  their  ordinary  mode 
of  progression  and  are  then  a  delight  to  watch.  Just  before  sunset  they 
fly  inland,  but  I  have  no  idea  hew  for  tlieir  roosting-place  lies  from  their 
daily  beat. 

Leslie  Huggard. 
Wexford. 


Migration  of  Swallows  in  South-east  Wexford. 

The  following  observations  were  made  last  autumn  on  a  part  of  the 
coast  of  south-east  Wexford  extending  from  Blackw^ater  Harbour  on  the 
north  to  Ballytrent,  about  half  way  between  Greenore  and  Carnsore  Points, 
on  the  south. 

I  spent  August  19  and  20  at  Curracloe,  a  small  place  on  the  coast, 
north  of  Wexford  Harbour.  On  both  days  I  found  parties  of  Swallows, 
ranging  from  about  20  to  50  birds  in  each,  flying  steadily  along  in  a 
southerly  direction.  These  parties  were  not  closely  packed,  that  is  to 
say  the  individuals  were  scattered,  but  each  party  was  well  defined  and 
an  interval,  sometimes  of  only  a  few  minutes,  but  generally  somewhat 
longer,  lapsed  between  the  parties.  All  these  birds  flew  along  the  shore, 
between  the  cliffs  or  sandhills,  as  the  case  might  be,  and  the  tide-line  ; 
a  few  occasionally  being  just  beyond  the  latter.  When  I  climbed  the 
cliffs  the  stream  of  birds  was  passing  below  me  and  I  could  see  the  local 
birds  flying  around  as  usual  inland.  Indeed  I  watched  several  of  the 
parties  pass  through  a  colony  of  Sand-Martins,  whose  nesting  holes  were 
visible  in  the  cliff-face,  but  neither  seemed  to  pay  any  attention  to  the 
other.  It  must  be  understood  that  this  was  not  a  continuous,  but  rather 
an  intermittent,  stream  of  birds.  On  the  19th  inst.  it  was  in  full  swing 
at  5  p.m.  (summer  time)  when  I  arrived  on  the  shore,  but  ceased  about 
an  hour  and  a  half  later.  On.  the  following  day  it  commenced  about 
II  a.m.,  and  I  saw  no  migrating  birds  after  3  p.m.,  but  between  those 
hours  the  passage  of  parties  was  constant.  I  noticed  also  that  longer 
intervals  elapsed  between  the  parties  at  the  commencement  and  nearing 
the  termination  of  the  flight,  so  that  the  stream  was  at  its  greatest  density 
from  about  12.30  to  1.30  p.m.  On  perhaps  half  a  dozen  occasions  I  saw 
birds  drop  on  the  sand  to  rest,  and  when  this  occurred  the  birds  following 
on  would  swoop  down  close  to  their  tired  compan,ions,  at  the  same  time 
twittering  gently  as  if  to  encourage  them.     After  resting  a  few  seconds 


1923-  S'oies.  41 

the  birds  would  rise  and  follow  their  mates.  I  was  rathi^r  surprised  to 
find  such  numbers  migrating  at  this  early  date,  but  I  see  [British  Birds. 
xvi.  p.  134)  that  Dr.  N.  H.  Joy  had  a  somewhat  similar  experience  earlier 
in  the  month  at  Selsey  Bill. 

Exactly  a  month  later,  on  September  20,  I  was  at  Ballygeary  (Rosslare 
Harbour)  and  at  noon  started  to  walk  along  the  shore  towards  Greenore 
Point.  I  at  once  noticed  parties  of  Swallows,  passing  along  between  the 
cliffs  and  the  tide-line,  but  now  they  were  going  north.  About  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  south-east  of  the  pier,  I  found  the  stream,  which  was  now  con- 
tinuous and  not  intermittent,  coming  from  inland  and  striking  the  coast 
at  an  acute  angle.  I  climbed  the  cliff  at  that  point  and  found  the  birds 
coming  overland  from  about  south-south-west.  For  about  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes  the  air  was  alive  with  birds  and  over  the  land  the  stream,  about 
20  yards  wide,  was  just  as  well  defined  as  when  the  birds  v/eie  flying  along 
the  shore.  At  this  time,  about  i  p.m.,  the  stream  was  at  its  greatest 
density  and  was  continuous,  but  then  it  began  to  be  divided  up  into 
distinct  parties  and  gradually  died  off  about  2.30  p.m.,  after  which  I  saw 
no  birds  coming  up  from  the  south.  Up  to  1.30  p.m.  all  birds  were  going 
north,  but  then  I  noticed  a  few  birds  coming  along,  outside  the  main  stream 
and  going  south.  These  were  the  van  of  a  new  stream  flying  from  north  to 
south,  and  for  about  half  an  hour  I  watched  the  two  streams  passing  one 
another  along  the  shore.  This  new  stream,  however,  never  attained  the 
same  dimensions  as  the  northward-bound  one,  and  instead  of  turning 
inland  where  the  other  was  emerging,  it  continued  along  shore,  so  after 
a  time  I  followed  it  up  and  found  the  birds  gathering  at  Greenore  Point. 
On  the  north  side  of  this  point  the  birds  were  flying  around  in  more  or 
less  circles,  and  kept  on  increasing  in  numbers,  but  when  I  turned  the 
point  to  the  southward  not  a  bird  was  visible.  After  a  time  I  noticed 
some  birds,  but  still  comparatively  few,  launching  themselves  off  over 
the  sea  in  the  direction  of,  but  slightly  north  of  the  Tuskar.  A  few  of 
these  birds,  when  a  little  way  out  to  sea,  returned  to  land,  but  the  others 
kept  on  out  of  sight.  Having  watched  them  for  some  time  and  seeing 
no  sign  of  an  immediate  departure,  for  the  birds  that  did  go  only  formed 
a  very  small  percentage  of  those  flying  about,  I  decided  to  walk  on  to 
Ballytrent  to  see  if  I  could  find  any  birds  along  that  part  of  the  coast, 
but  I  did  not  see  a  single  Swallow  the  whole  way.  So  I  returned  to  Greenore 
Point  and  found  to  my  great  disappointment  that  all  the  birds  had  gone 
during  my  absence,  not  a  single  Swallow  to  be  seen  anywhere,  nor  did  I 
see  any  further  movement  of  birds  that  evening,  but  there  were  a  few 
"  locals  "  flying  around  in  Ballygeary  later.  Of  course  I  cannot  say 
definitely  that  these  birds,  numbering  several  hundreds  when  I  left  Greenore, 
set  out  on  their  cross-channel  journey  from  that  point,  as  I  did  not  actually 
see  them  go,  though  I  did  see  some.  They  may  have  gone  north  again, 
but  they  certainly  did  not  come  south,  and  I  think  it  is  a  fair  inference 
to  make  that  they  used  Greenore  Point  that  afternoon  as  a  "  jumping  off  " 
place,  and  they  must  have  left  it  between  3.15  p.m.  and  4  p.m.  On 
September  28,  I  walked  from  Rosslare  Strand  to  Ballygeary  along  the 
shore.     Most  of  the  way  I  saw  no  Swallows,  but  when  nearing  the  latter 


42  The  Irish  Naturalist.  April, 

place,  small  parties  suddenly  appeared,  flying  north,  the  flight  as  usual 
being  between  the  cliffs  and  the  tide-line.  These  parties  continued  to 
pass,  and  when  I  got  to  Ballygeary  I  went  to  the  point  where  I  had  seen 
the  birds  strike  the  coast  on  the  20th  inst.  and  again  the  flight  came  up 
overland  to  that  point  from  practically  the  same  direction.  On  this 
occasion  the  stream  was  always  intermittent  and  consisted  of  Swallows, 
House-Martins,  and  a  few  Sand-Martins,  but  the  numbers  were  nothing 
like  those  seen  a  week  earlier.  I  found  no  birds  between  that  point  and 
Greenore,  nor  did  I  see  a  return  flight  from  the  north  that  evening. 

I  have  records  of  both  Swallows  and  House-Martins  in  some  numbers 
about  Wexford  town,  up  to  and  including  the  30  th  October.  In  two 
sheltered  valleys  close  to  the  towm  I  found  them  almost  every  day  that 
month,  but  saw  none  after  the  date  mentioned. 

\\.  M.  Abbott. 
Fermoy. 

Some  of  our  readers  may  remember  that  two  very  interesting  articles 
on  the  autumnal  movement  of  Swallows  on  the  same  part  of  the  Irish 
coast  v/ere  contributed  to  this  journal  in  191 2,  by  Mr.  A.  H.  Delap 
(vol.  xxi.,  pp.  65-71)  and  Mr.  H.  F  Witherby  (pp.  143-4).  The  three 
sets  of  observations  should  be  read  together  and  carefully  compared. 

■ — ^Eds. 

The  Macrolepidoptera  of  County  Tyrone.^ 

Mr.  Greer  is  to  be  congratulated  on  the  completion  of  his  local  list 
of  Tyrone  Lepidoptera  ;  it  is  undoubtedly  the  most  interesting  report  of 
this  kind  that  has  appeared  since  the  publication  of  ?vlr.  Wm,  de  Vismes 
Kane's  "  Catalogue  of  the  Lepidoptera  of  Ireland  "  more  than  twenty 
years  ago.  When  Mr.  Greer  began  the  study  of  Tyrone  Lepidoptera 
the  county  had  been  but  little  explored.  Mr.  Kane  had  collected  in  the 
old  Favour  Royal  demesne  and  at  Altadiawan  Glen  on  the  slope  of  Slieve 
Beagh  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  Mr.  Greer  also  acknowledges 
the  valuable  results  of  Professor  J.  W.  Heslop  Harrison's  hoi i  lay  visits 
to  the  district  in  the  seasons  of  1909  and  19 10,  The  present  lijt  includes 
records  of  331  species,  as  well  as  many  varieties,  and  about  90  are  not 
recorded  from  Tyrone  in  Mr.  Kane's  "  Catalogue."  A  pleasing  feature 
is  the  large  number  of  interesting  notes  concerning  the  actual  occurrence 
of  the  species,  accompanied  in  many  cases  by  notes  on  their  larvse, 
evidence  of  painstaking  field-v/ork  carried  out  during  many  years  in 
various  parts  of  the  county. 

The  butterflies  number  twenty-two  species  ;  amongst  the  more 
interesting  are  Vanessa  io  "  abundant  of  late  in  the  district  "  ;  Envanessa 
antiopa  once  seen  near  Trillick,  as  mentioned  by  Kane,  and  one  in  a 
collection  taken  near  Cookstown  in  August,   1904  ;    needless  to  say  it  is 

1  "  The  Entomologist,"  Vol.  liii.,   October    and  December,     1920,   and 
Vol.  liv.,  February,  May,  September,  November  and  December,   192 1. 


1923'  Notes.  43 

not  a  native  species.  Dyyas  paphia  :  in  Mr.  Greer's,  district  the  larva 
feeds  on  Rubus  Idceiis  and  not  on  its  usual  food-plant  Viola  canina  ;  a 
variety  of  this  butterfly  with  greenish-white  spots  on  the  wings  occurs 
in  one  of  the  glens  where  the  typical  form  is  abundant.  A  few  of  the 
rarer  moths  may  be  referred  to — Pheosia  tremula,  larva  locally  abundant 
on  poplars.  Pterostoma  palpina,  rare.  Polyploca  flavicornis,  Dasychira 
fascelina  and  Acronycta  leporina  ;  the.  larvae  of  these  three  occurred  on 
the  Lough  Neagh  border,  Diaphora  mendica  var.  yustica  common,  the 
males  ranging  from  white,  through  buff,  to  a  pale  smoke  colour,  the  female 
often  with  only  the  dot  at  base  of  fore  wings.  Demas  coryli  locally 
abundant.  Agroiis  cortice:i  and  Agrotis  cinerea  at  light.  Eumichtis 
protea,  a  single  specimen  at  sugar.  Panolis  pinipevda,  not  very  abundant. 
Tcsniocampa  opima,  at  Lough  Neagh,  where  the  variety  brunnea  occurs. 
Dyschorista  suspecta,  locally  common  at  heather  blossom  and  on  ragweed. 
Cirrhoedia  xerampelina,  at  rest  on  ash  trunks  and  at  street  lamps. 
Amathes  helvola,  very  rare  at  sugar.  Geometra  veniaria,  in  some  numbers 
near  Coalisland  and  probably  introduced  with  Clematis  Vitalba  which  is 
common  in  gardens  in  the  same  locality.  Chesias  spartiata  common 
among  broom  {Cytisiis  scoparius).  Euzosmia  undulata.  Eurymene 
dolobraria  very  local,  larva  on  hazel  and  beech.  Pachys  strataria,  one  at 
rest  on  sallow  trunk,  and  another  bred  from  a  larva  beaten  from  wild 
cherry  in  April.  The  larva  of  the  common  Abraxa  grossulariata  in  certain 
localities  feeds  on  ling,  the  imago  is  small  and  dark. 

Evidently  Mr.  Greer  believes  there  is  still  useful  work  to  be  done 
on  the  lepidopterous  fauna  of  Tyrone.  He  remarks  "a  large  area  in 
the  centre  of  the  county,  consisting  of  wide  moorlands,  studded  with 
numerous  lakes  ;  fertile  valleys,  many  glens  clothed  with  native  scrubby 
woods,  dominated  by  the  isolated  mountain  Mullaghcarn,  1,778  feet  in 
elevation  ;  and  in  the  north  a  mountain  range  rising  to  over  2,000  feet, 
is  all  practically  unknown  so  far  as  the  Lepidoptera  are  concerned  ". 
So  we  may  look  forward  to  further  discoveries  in  this  interesting  district. 

J.  N.  H. 
Dublin. 


Early  Breeding  of  Wood  Pigeons. 

A  neighbour  of  mine  informed  me  a  day  or  two  ago  that  on  the  morning 
of  the  6th  February  following  a  gale  of  wind,  he  found  under  a  tree  near  his 
house,  two  young  pigeons  which  had  evidently  been  blown  out  of  their 
nest.  He  described  these  young  birds  as  being  nearly  ready  to  fly,  and 
on  the  day  of  disaster  and  the  follov/ing  the  youngsters  were  fed  on  the 
ground  by  their  parents.  Unfortunately  a  dog  terminated  their  earthly 
career.  From  the  description  given  to  me,  these  young  birds  must 
have  been  hatched  about  the  middle  of  January,  and  this  surely  constitutes 

a  record  even  for  a  Wood  Pigeon. 

R.  J.  Pack-Beresford. 

Auburn  House,  Athlone. 


^14  The  Irish  Naturalist,  April,  1923. 

An  Enemy  of  the  Wireworm. 

In  the  August  number  of  "  The  Entomologist,"  1922,  pp.  185-6,  Mr. 
Claude  Morley,  F.E.S.,  records  the  parasitism  of  the  wireworm  (Agriotes 
sp.  ?)  by  the  Hymenopteron  Paracodrus  apterogynus  Halida5^  His 
statement  is  as  follows  : — •"  Nothing  has  hitherto  appeared  respecting  its 
economy.  The  Irish  National  Museum  in  the  autumn  of  1919  sent  me 
an  apterous  female  of  this  species  for  determination,  with  the  intimation 
that  it  had  recently  been  bred  along  with  identical  specimens  from  a 
larva  of  the  Coleopterous  genu^  Agriotes,  found  at  Bangor,  in  Devon  "(sic). 

As  the  finder  of  the  larva  I  think  it  may  be  as  well  to  record  the  whole 
facts.  On  several  occasions  in  the  years  1 915-19  I  found  in  my  garden 
at  Ballymagee,  Bangor,  Co.  Down  (not  Devon)  wireworms  from  which 
protruded  the  pupae  of  a  parasite.  In  191 8  va.Y  curiosity  was  sufficiently 
aroused  to  send  one  to  Mr.  J.  A.  S'dney  Stendall  of  the  museum  at  Belfast. 
The  insects  hatched  out  but  escaped  ;  but  in  the  following  year  Mr. 
Stendall  was  successful  in  rearing  three  or  four  females  from  another 
wireworm  which  I  had  sent  him.  These  eventually  reached  Mr.  Morley, 
through  Mr.  J.  N.  Halbert,  and  were  named  as  above.  Paracodrus  is  a 
genus  belonging  to  the  Proctotrypidae,   a  division  of  the  Hymenoptera. 

In  the  National  Museum  are  two  specimens  of  wireworm  from  Valencia, 
Co.  Kerrv,  sent  by  Miss  Delap,  some  years  ago.  From  one  protrude 
many  pupae,  from  the  other  numerous  "  still  born  "  imagines  of  what 
appear  to  me  to  be  the  same  species  of  Paracodrus  referred  to  above. 
So  far  as  I  can  s^e,  all  are  wingless  and  all  are  females.  Mr.  Morley 
[loc.  cit.)  states  that  the  female  is  sometimes  winged  like  the  male,  and 
adds  that  the  latter  is  by  far  the  rarer  sex.  Mr.  Morley  also  quotes 
three  old  records  in  which  wireworms  had  been  found  parasitised  by 
"  a  Proctotrypes,"  a  generic  name  which  in  those  days  included  Paracodrus. 

The  question  arises,  how  does  the  female  Paracodrus  gain  access  to 
the  wireworm  (which  is,  of  course,  the  larva  of  one  of  the  so-called  Click 
Beetles)  ? 

Wireworms  are  often  found  at  a  considerable  depth  in  the  soil  and 
are  most  common  in  old  grass-land  ;  but  I  have  often  found  them  in 
my  garden  at  Ballymagee,  basking,  as  it  were,  in  the  sun,  just  below 
the  surface  of  the  soil,  when  the  latter  was  very  finely  worked,  as  in  a 
seed  or  onion  bed.  A  rake  drawn  over  the  surface  of  such  a  bed  would 
expose  sometimes  as  many  as  five  or  six  surprised  and  struggling  wire- 
worms.  This  only  occurred  in  very  hot  dry  weather,  and  possibly  it  is 
under  such  conditions  that  the  female  Paracodrus  carries  out  her  egg-laying, 
Paracodrus  apterogynus  is  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length  from  tip 
of  the  long  antennae  to  apex  of  the  abdomen,  exceedingly  slender, 
blackish-brown  with  paler  legs  and  antennae  ;  the  whole  head  and  body 
are  very  glossy  and  the  head  is  curiously  spherical. 

A.  W.  Stelfox. 
National  Museum. 


May,  1923.  The  Irish  Naturalist.  as^ 

POROTRICHUM  ANGUSTIFOLIUM   IN   IRELAND. 

BY   H.    N.    DIXON,    F.L.S. 

Porotrichiun  angustifolium  Dixon  {Thamnium  angusti- 
folium  Holt)  is  one  of  the  few  mosses  with  a  genuine  claim 
to  be  endemic  in  the  British  Isles.  Its  characters  are 
marked  and  well  defined  ;  while  the  fact  that  it  grows 
intermixed  with  P.  alopecurum,  each  keeping  its  own 
characters,  precludes  any  idea  of  its  being  a  form  due  to 
local  conditions.  And  more  than  that,  it  has  hitherto 
been  known  from  one  sole  station  in  Derbyshire,  where  it 
is  indeed  confined  to  a  single  and  rather  limited  rock- 
surface. 

It  is  therefore  of  special  interest  that  it  appears  to  be 
also  an  Irish  plant.  Two  records  have  come  under  my 
notice,  which  must  be  dealt  with  separately. 

1.  It  is  recorded  by  the  late  Canon  Lett  from  Co.  Kerry 
in  his  "  Census  Report  on  the  Mosses  of  Ireland  "  (Proc. 
Roy.  Irish  Acad,  xxxii.,  162  (1915).  The  record  reads 
"  2  Derrycunnihy  1906 — H.  W.  L." 

Unhappily  the  record  is  incorrect.  I  have  been  allowed, 
by  the  courtesy  of  the  Acting  Director,  to  examine  the 
specimen  of  the  original  plant  collected  by  Lett,  in  the 
National  Museum  at  Dublin.  There  is  only  one  specimen. 
It  is  a  form  of  P.  alopecurum,  slightly  different  from  the 
normal  forms  ;  one  peculiar  to  rocky  sides  and  boulders 
of  mountain  streams  ;  growing  in  similar  situations  to, 
and  not  unlike  Eurhynchium  myosuroides  var.  riviilare  Holt. 

2.  The  second  record  rests  on  a  much  firmer  basis,  the 
information  for  which  I  owe  to  Mr.  H.  C.  Broome.  Mr. 
Broome  has  in  his  possession  the  herbarium  of  the  late 
Mr.  Levi  Tetlow,  an  ardent  Lancashire  naturalist,  and  a 
keen  moss  collector.  Among  the  mosses  in  the  collection 
are  two  from  Ireland,  both  labelled  in  Tetlow's  hand  as 
being  collected  by  Jas.  Shepley  (of  Oldham)  in  Ireland,  in 
1898.  One  is  labelled  "  Dicranum  undulatiim,  Glenariff, 
Ireland,  1898  c[olL]  J.  Shepley."  This,  however,  is  not 
D.  undulatum,  but  a  very  rugose-leaved  form  of  D.  Bonjeani 
referable  probably  to  var.  rugifolium  Boswell. 

A 


46  The  Irish  Nakirahst.  May, 

The  other  is  labelled  "  Porotrichum  angustifolium  Dixon, 
Glen — — ,  Ireland,  1898  c[oll.]  J.  Shepley."  Most  unfor- 
tunately the  name  of  the  locality  is  illegible,  which  may 
be  due  to  Tetlow's  hand,  or  possibly  to  his  having  been 
unable  to  decipher  Shepley's  writing.  It  looks  like  Glenlive. 
Mr.  Broome  suggests  Glenaline  (a  mountain  in  Fermanagh) 
as  being  the  nearest  to  the  word  as  written.  But  I  must 
confess  to  a  difficulty  in  accepting  this  solution.  The 
word  might  be  Glenaline,  but  I  think  it  might  quite  as  well 
be  something  else  ;  and  there  is  no  reason  whatever  to 
suppose  that  Shepley  was  ever  in  Fermanagh.  The  fact 
that  these  two  mosses  are,  as  I  understand,  the  only  two 
Irish  specimens  of  Shepley's  collecting  in  the  herbarium, 
and  both  collected  at  the  same  date,  suggests  very  strongly 
that  they  were  both  collected  somewhere  at  least  in  the 
same  district,  i.e.,  near  Glenariff,  in  Antrim.  Glenarm, 
Glendun  and  Glenaan  are  the  only  names  of  this  type  with 
which  I  am  acquainted  in  that  neighbourhood,  and  none 
of  these  fits  the  script.  It  is  possible  that  it  may  be  a 
name  of  only  local  importance,  but  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  the  word  as  written  may  quite  probably  be  considerably 
altered  from  the  original,  whatever  it  was. 

The  plant  is  perfectly  correct  ;  there  is  only  a  single 
stem,  but  it  is  in  quite  good  condition,  and  characteristic. 
It  occurred  to  me  as  a  possibility  that  the  specimen  might 
be  a  Derbyshire  one  given  to  Tetlow  by  \Vhitehead,  and 
attributed  to  Shepley  by  an  error  ;  but  Mr.  Broome  thinks 
this  most  improbable  ;  there  are  no  other  specimens  of  the 
Derbyshire  plant  in  Tetlow's  collection  from  which  it  might 
have  been  taken  ;  and  there  is  every  evidence  of  care  in 
the  herbarium  of  labelling,  &c.  I  may  add  to  this  that 
the  habit  of  vShepley's  plant  is  slightly  different  from  any 
of  the  gatherings  I  have  seen  from  Derbyshire,  being  in 
fact  somewhat  better  developed  and  more  dendroid  in 
habit,  with  a  firmer  -main  stem. 

All  things  considered,  I  think  the  evidence  is  strongly 
in  favour  of  an  Irish  origin  for  the  specimen  ;  probably  in 
Antrim  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Glenariff.  The  Derbyshire 
station  is  a  distinctly  calcareous  one,  but  as  P.  alopecitrum 
is  found  on  both  calcareous  and  non-calcareous  rocks,  it 


1923'  Review.  47 

must  not  be  too  hastily  assumed  that  P.  angiistifolium  is 
a  purely  calciphilous  moss. 

Any  information  or  suggestion  as  to  the  possible  name 
that  is  hidden  under  the  dubious  "  Glenlive  "  would  be 
very  welcome,  while  a  search  for  the  moss  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Glenariff  would  be  highly  desirable.  It  should  be 
looked  for  on  rocks  that  are,  at  times  at  least,  moist,  and 
has  the  appearance  of  a  slender,  small-leaved  form  of 
P.  alopecunim.  The  narrow  branch-leaves  with  very  broad 
nerve  would  enable  it  to  be  recognized  with  the  lens. 

Northampton. 


REVIEW. 

The  Elasmobranch  Fishes.  By  J.  Frank  Daniel.  Berkeley,  California  ; 
University  of  California  Press,  1922.  Pp.  334,  mth  260  plates  and 
figures.      Price,  cloth  §5.50. 

The  term  "  elasmobranch  "  is  applied,  to  those  fishes  whose  gills  are 
plate-like  in  structure  and  whose  skeleton  is  cartilaginous.  All  the  sharks, 
dog-fishes  and  their  relations,  the  skates  and  rays  belong  to  this  group. 
The  author,  who  is  Professor  of  Zoology  in  the  University  of  California, 
justly  dwells  on  the  importance  of  the  elasmobranch  fishes  for  the  study 
of  the  fundamental  plan  of  the  vertebrate  body.  For  many  years  past 
the  Common  Dog-fish  {Scyllium  catulus)  which  is  a  species  of  the  shark 
tribe,  has  been  carefully  examined  and  dissected  by  students  undergoing 
a  course  of  zoology  in  British  universities  and  colleges.  This  practice 
does  not  seem  to  be  carried  out  to  the  same  extent  in  the  United  States, 
and  Prof.  Daniel  endeavours  by  the  publication  of  this  book  to  rouse  a 
more  general  interest  in  the  study  of  elasmobranch  fishes. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  about  their  being  a  very  primitive  group  of 
fishes.  Comparatively  few  species  are  still  hving.  But  in  bygone  ages 
there  existed  many  more,  and  some  of  them  attained  gigantic  proportions. 
Many  of  the  extinct  forms  are  only  known  from  their  teeth  which  have 
been  preserved  to  us  in  various  geological  deposits. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  types  of  Elasmobranchs  is  Heptanchus, 
a  shark  possessing  no  less  than  seven  gill-shts  and  the  same  number  of 
gill-arches.  Together  with  Hexanchus,  to  which  it  is  very  closely  related 
and  which  occurs  in  Irish  waters,  it  has  often  been  placed  in  the  genus 
Notidanus.  It  is  this  genus  Heptanchus  which,  on  account  of  its  special 
generahzation,  has  been  chosen  by  Prof.  Daniel  as  a  type  with  which  to 
compare  in  general  other  elasmobranch  fishes.  It  inherits  more  than 
any  other  shark  the  main  features  of  its  remote  ancestors.  The  author 
has  also  collected  and  combined  the  work  done  by  many  investigators 
on  the  various  types. 


48  The  Irish  Naturalist.  May, 

The  treatment  of  the  subject  chosen  by  Prof.  Daniel  has  been  carried 

out  with  great  care  and  success.      The  eleven  chapters  dealing  with  the 

external  characters  and  the  internal  structure  are  copiously  illustrated, 

many  of  the  drawings  being  original.      Special  attention  may  be  directed 

to  the  chapters  on  the  arterial  and  venous  blood  systems  for  the  wealth 

and   beauty   of    the   illustrations.       And   what   will  assist  the   student 

considerably  is  that  at  the  end  of  each  chapter  there  is  an  exhaustive 

bibliography.      To  both  students  and  teachers  this  book  will  be  of  the 

greatest  use  as  a  valuable  guide  on  the  structure  of  Elasmobranchs,  and 

it  can  be  warmly  recommended. 

R.  F.  S. 

OBITUARY. 

WILLIAM    H.    PHILLIPS. 

W,  H.  Phillips  was  born  in  1830,  and  died  at  Holy  wood,  Co.  Down,  on 
13th  March  last,  in  his  93rd  year.  For  over  half  a  century  he  was  an 
enthusiastic  student  and  collector  of  British  ferns,  and  particularly  of 
the  numerous  sports  which  form  so  remarkable  a  feature  of  these  plants. 
When  the  writer  first  met  him  over  forty  years  ago,  he  was  already  in  the 
forefront  of  the  band  of  workers  who  in  1891  formed  themselves  into  the 
British  Pteridological  Society — which  had  been  preceded,  I  believe,  by 
another  society  of  similar  name.  His  collection  of  ferns  at  Holywood 
was  large  and  very  interesting,  and  was  enriched  with  not  a  few  remarkable 
forms  which  he  himself  had  found  in  many  years'  collecting,  mainly  in 
Ulster.  He  was  an  original  member  of  the  Belfast  Naturalists'  Field 
Club,  founded  in  1863,  and  read  his  first  paper  "  The  Classification  and 
Distribution  of  Ferns,  with  notices  of  some  interesting  varieties  lately 
found  in  this  locality,"  before  that  society  on  March  23,  1865.  He  was 

Treasurer  of  the  Club  for  twenty -five  years,  and  its  President  during  the 
sessions  1905-6  and  1906-7,  and  his  fine  displays  of  living  and  dried  fronds 
of  his  favourite  plants  were  a  feature  of  the  Annual  Conversaziones. 

In  1887,  in  conjunction  with  the  present  writer,  he  published  as  an 
Appendix  to  the  Club  Proceedings  "  The  Ferns  of  Ulster,"  in  which  a  full 
account  of  the  distribution  of  the  species,  varieties,  and  sports  of  the  local 
species  is   given. 

R.  LL.  P. 

IRISH     SOCIETIES. 

Ulster  Society  for  the  Protection  of  Birds. 

February   i6.- — 'Annual  Meeting.  Sir  Robert  Kennedy  in  the  chair. 

The  Annual  Report  stated  that  the  membership  of  the  Society  was  now 
about  170.  A  junior  branch  of  the  Society  was  being  formed.  Reference 
was  made  to  the  great  destruction  of  sea-birds  by  oil  discharged  by  vessels 
entering  or  leaving  the  Clyde.  The  Honorary  Scientific  Secretaries 
(N.  H.  Foster  and  J.  A.  S.  Stendall)  also  submitted  their  report,  and 
the  Treasurer,  Miss  Meta  McCullagh,  her  financial  statement. 


1923.  Irish  Societies. 


49 


BELFAST  NATURALISTS'  FIELD  CLUB. 

February  20.- — S.  A.  Bennett,  B.Sc,  and  R.  Bell,  V.  Min.  Soc, 
read  a  paper  on  a  lately  discovered  prehistoric  site  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  Black  Mountain  near  Belfast,  at  about  800  feet  elevation.  A 
large  variety  of  flint  flakes,  with  half-finished  implements  were  found 
here  ;  finished  implements  were  rarer.  The  finds  included  scrapers, 
hammer-stones,  cores,  and  a  leaf-shaped  implement  which  Mr.  Reginald 
Smith  considered  to   be  of  Proto-Solutrian  type. 

April  13  (Diamond  Jubilee  Year). — The  annual  conversazione  was 
held  in  the  Carlton  Hall,  Rev.  W.  R.  Megaw,  B.A.,  Newtownbreda, 
President,  being  in  the  chair.  An  interesting  exhibition  of  specimens 
was  on  view.  The  most  important  exhibit  was  that  of  R.  Bell,  who  showed 
a  series  of  very  early  types  of  worked  flints  from  taluses  of  pre-historic 
rock-shelters  on  the  Black  Mountain.  The  flints  are  similar  to  some 
discovered  in  the  Dordogne  valley  in  France,  and  Grimes'  Graves  in 
East  Anglia.  From  the  Public  Museum  came  enlarged  models  of  insec- 
tivorous plants,  showing  how  these  are  adapted  to  capture  insects. 
Specimens  of  Bulimus  oblongns,  a  large  land-shell  from  Trinidad,  with 
enormous  white  eggs,  almost  as  big  as  the  eggs  of  a  pigeon,  were  also 
shown.  Among  W.  A.  S.  Stendall's  exhibits  were  eggs  of  the  Common 
Guillemot,  Ringed  Plovers'  eggs,  an  almost  white  Sparrow  from  Ballymena, 
the  first  egg  of  the  Fulmar  ever  taken  in  County  Antrim,  and  a  Little 
Auk  blown  ashore  at  Rathhn  Island.  James  Orr  showed  a  series  of  exotic 
cowrie  shells.  H.  T.  Malcomson  had  thirty-five  different  species  of  the 
moths  of  Northern  Ireland.  Among  the  many  exhibits  of  T.  Edens 
Osborne  were  Ushabti  models  of  servants  of  deceased  Egyptian  notables 
of  the  time  of  the  Pharaohs.  He  also  exhibited  specimens  from  Scrabo 
Hill  of  rain-pitted  and  ripple-marked  Triassic  sandstones.  A.  A.  Campbell 
showed  a  copy  of  the  Belfast  Mercantile  Register  of  1822,  and  a  "  News- 
Letter  "  of  1804,  as  well  as  albums  of  excursion  snapshots.  R.  J.  Welch 
had  selected  fresh-water  mollusca  from  the  Lagan  valley  and  Lough 
Neagh  basin,  with  some  xerophile  or  sun-loving  species,  including  those 
whose  sudden  appearance  after  a  rain  shower  in  dry  weather,  gives  rise 
to  the  idea  in  south  and  east  England  that  it  has  rained  snails.  Rev. 
W.  R.  Megaw  exhibited  mosses  ;  Miss  Blackwood,  Yorkshire  plants  ; 
S.  A.  Bennett  (Campbell  College)  had  brought  Carices  of  Down  and 
Antrim  ;  Captain  Chase,  plants  from  England,  which  are  rare,  if  not 
altogether  absent  from  Ireland.  A  melancholy  interest  attached  to  Miss 
N.  Carrothers'  group  of  plants  from  Magilligan.  These  had  been  collected 
by  the  late  W.  J.  C.  Tomlinson.  From  the  Botanical  Department,  Queen's 
University,  Professor  Small  had  sent  his  American  life  plant,  and  exhibits 
illustrating  a  new  aid  to  propagation  by  cuttings.  Miss  M.  J.  Lynn, 
M.Sc,  collaborated.  There  were  also  variations  in  leaf  form  of  Horn- 
beam leaves,  a  tree  which,  it  appears,  is  found  near  Belfast.  Miss  M.  W. 
Rea,  M.Sc,  showed  Rosa  (group  Canina)  from  the  collection  of  Rev.  C.  H. 
Waddell.  W.  A.  Green- — Carboniferous  fossil  shells  and  plants,  in- 
cluding some  very  perfect  fossil  ferns.      A.  MT.  Cleland- — Specimens  from 


50  The  Irish  Naturalist,  May, 

a  calcareous  deposit,  and  fossils  from  Greensand,  Magheramorne  ;  also 
examples  of  three  species  of  Pholas,  from  Cloghan  Point.  After  tea  Rev. 
W.  R.  Megaw,  President,  expressed  his  pleasure  at  the  continued  progress 
of  the  Society,  now  in  its  diamond  jubilee  year.  Fourteen  new  members 
were  elected.  Prizes  were  awarded  to  two  Junior  Section  Members' — 
Maurice  R.  Crawford  for  his  collection  of  dried  plants,  and  to  Nora  Stendall 
for  a  large  exhibit  of  freshly-collected  spring  flowers. 

DUBLIN    MICROSCOPICAL    CLUB. 

March  14.- — 'Dr.  P.  A.  Murphy  announced  the  discovery  of  a  potato 
resistant  to  Pink  Rot  {Phyiophthcra  crythroseptica),  and  exhibited  micro- 
scopical preparations  and  specimens  illustrating  the  resistance  of  this 
potato,  which  belongs  to  the  "  Shamrock  "  variety,  in  comparison  with 
other   well-known   sorts. 

D.  Mc Ardle  showed  Diphyscinni  foliosuni,  a  curious  moss  which  shows 
little  trace  of  a  stem  furnished  with  root-hairs.  The  mature  fruit  is  rarely 
if  ever  found  in  this  country,  and  is  described  by  Schimper  as  large  as  a 
grain  of  wheat,  and  he  alone  seems  to  have  described  the  rudimentary 
teeth  of  the  peristom.e.  All  our  specimens,  when  collected  on  a  bank  by 
the  roadside  at  Connor  Hill,  near  Dingle,  Co.  Kerry,  bore  apparently  un- 
fertilised capsules  ;  probably  the  dioecious  character  may  account  for  this. 

NOTES. 

ZOOLOGY. 

The  Squirrel  in  Ireland. 

Are  we  not  told  in  the  Tain  Bo  Cuailnge  that  a  squirrel  and  a  pet  hind 
were  slain  by  Cuchulain  as  they  sat  on  Maev's  shoulder  ;  and  is  this  not 
conclusive  evidence  that  the  squirrel  is  indigenous  ? 

Belfast.  Edward    A.     Armstrong. 

The  matter  is  not  quite  so  simple  as  would  appear  from  our  corres- 
pondent's suggestion,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  determining  the 
correct  translation  of  the  Irish  word  used  for  the  animal  which  figures  in 
the  episode.        Dr.   Best  has  kindly  furnished  the  following  note  :■ — 

"  The  word  rendered  '  Squirrel  '  in  the  passage  cited  from 
Tain  Bo  Cuailnge  is  togmall,  diminutive  togmalldn,  and  togdn.  It 
occurs  also  in  the  Acallam  na  Sen  orach,  edited  by  Whitley  Stokes 
(Irische  Texte  IV.  i.)  who  in  his  Glossarial  Index  (p.  431)  remarks 
'  some  small  animal,  guessed  by  O'Curry  to  be  a  squirrel  ..." 
V\^indisch  in  a  note  to  the  passage  in  his  edition  of  Tain  Bo  Cuailnge 
(p.  180)  remarks  that  the  name  of  this  animal  varies  in  the  MSS. 
between  togmall,  togmalldn,  and  togdn,  as  given  above.  Togan 
appears  to  be  the  more  frequent.  He  compares  taghan   '  the 

iNlarten,'  citing  Ma -bain,  Etymological  Dictionary  of  the  Gaelic 
Language,  and  translates  accordingly  '  Frettchen,'  i.e..  Marten  or 
Ferret." 


1923.  Notes.  51 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  identity  of  the  animal  in  question  is  more  or 
less  guesswork,  and  that  Marten  is  the  more  likely  translation.  In  this 
connection  Dr.  Scharff's  paper  "  On  the  Irish  Names  of  Animals  {Irish 
Naturalist,  vol.  xxiv.  (1915)  PP-45-53.  is  our  best  authority. — .Eds. 


Irish  Breeding:  Birds. 

To  the  April  number  of  "  British  Birds  "  Mr,  C.  V.  Stoney  contributes 
an  important  article—"  Recent  Observations  on  some  Irish  Breeding 
Birds  " — -giving  in  a  collected  form  the  additions  that  have  been  made 
since  the  publication  of  Messrs.  Ussher  and  Warren's  "  Birds  of  Ireland  " 
to  the  list  of  birds  known  to  breed  in  this  country,  and  to  the  counties 
in  which  nests  of  the  scarcer  species  have  been  found.  The  paper  will 
be  convenient  for  reference,  as  the  birds  added  to  our  list  since  1900  are  no 
fewer  than  five — -the  Eider  Duck,  Common  Scoter,  Red-necked  Phalarope, 
Black-necked  or  Eared  Grebe,  and  Fulmar  ;  while  in  at  least  six  cases 
counties  have  been  added  to  the  ascertained  breeding  range,  the  Garden- 
Warbler's  nest  having  been  found  in  Queen's  County  ;  the  Wood- Warbler's 
in  Co.  Wicklow  (where,  however,  the  fact  of  the  bird's  breeding  had 
previously  been  accepted  as  quite  beyond  doubt)  ;  the  Tree-Sparrow's  in 
Mayo,  Donegal,  Derry,  and  Antrim  ;  the  Siskin's  in  Derry  ;  the  Crossbill's 
in  Dublin,  and  the  Dunlin's  in  Fermanagh.  The  list  is  admittedly  not 
quite  exhaustive,  as  the  writer  has  refrained  in  regard  to  such  rare  species 
as  the  Sandwich  and  Roseate  Tern  from  naming  the  counties  in  which 
new  nesting  localities  have  been  found. 


Early  Arrival  of  the  Chiffchaff  in  Co.  Down. 

On  22nd  March  this  year  a  Chiffchaff  {Phyllosocopus  collyhita  Vieill.) 
was  seen  by  me  near  McAuley's  Lake,  a  large  sheet  of  water  about  three 
miles  from  Ballynahinch,  and  almost  in  the  centre  of  Co.  Down.  The  bird 
was  hopping  about  in  a  thorn  hedge,  and  its  well-known  notes,  uttered 
very  faintly,  were  what  first  attracted  my  attention.  As  I  watched,  its 
voice  seemed  to  increase  in  strength.  The  day  was  bright  and  sunny, 
and  the  place  a  sheltered  one. 

Robert  N.  Morrison. 

Ballynahinch,  Co.  Down. 

Rev.  R.  N.  Morrison's  note  supra  constitutes,  so  far  as  I  know,  the 
earliest  record  of  the  Chiffchaff  in  the  North  of  Ireland.  Thompson  {Nat. 
Hist,  of  Ireland,  Vol.  I.,  p.  196)  gives  3rd  April  as  the  earliest  date  of 
arrival  known  to  him,  and  my  Hillsborough  earliest  note  is  23rd  March, 
in  191 8.       This  year  I  saw  it  first  on  28th  March. 

Nevin  H.  Foster. 
Hillsborough,  Co.  Down. 


52  Ths  Irish  Naturalist.  May,  1923. 

Variation  in  Size  of  Eggs  of  the  Lesser  Tern. 

While  the  eggs  of  the  Lesser  Tern  vary  considerably  in  ground  colour 
and  markings,  and  sometimes  in  shape,  I  have  rarely  noticed  a  very  great 
difference  in  size.  The  dimensions  usually  range  from  i  .2"  x  .87"  to  i  .3" 
X  1 .0".  In  June,  1921,  I  obtained  specimens  from  a  nest  in  Co.  Dublin, 
which  measured,  respectively,  1.05"  x  .75"  and  .95"  x  .75".  The 
abnormal  sizes  of  these  eggs  at  first  made  me  doubt  if  the  nest  did  belong 
to  the  Lesser  Tern.  However,  the  general  appearance  of  the  eggs,  together 
with  the  situation  of  the  nest,  and  last  but  not  least  the  kind  help  of  Mr. 
C.  B.  Moffat  in  identification  have  led  me  to  the  conclusion  that  they 
were  laid  by  none  other  than  our  delightful  little  summer  visitor  the 
Lesser  Tern.  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  if  any  readers  of  the  Irish 
Naturalist  have  ever  observed  any  Terns'  eggs  so  small  as  these. 


F.  W.  Jeffers. 


DubUn. 


BOTANY. 

Early   Flowers. 

Owing  to  the  exceptionally  mild  winter  several  plants  have  been 
flowering  in  this  neighbourhood  months  before  their  normal  time.  On 
i6th  December  I  saw  Primroses  in  a  sheltered  lane^ — -apparently  in  flower 
for  at  least  a  week — ^and  the  Lesser  Celandine  a  few  days  later.  Between 
the  ist  and  4th  January  I  found  no  less  than  twenty-six  species  in  bloom; 
the  majority  were  of  course  survivals,  but  the  following  were  of  fresh 
growth  :—  Cardamine  hirsuta,  Capsella  Bursa-pastoris,  Geranium  Roher- 
iianum,  Poteniilla  Fragariastrum,  Geum  uvhanuni,  Sanicula  europcsa, 
Lapsana  communis,  Crepis  virens,    Veronica  agrestis. 

C.    J.    Lilly. 
Limavady. 

On  March  31,  along  the  County  Down  shore  of  Belfast  Lough,  I  saw 
Wild  Hyacinth  [Endymion  nutans)  in  flower  in  two  places — -this  is  quite 
the  earliest  date  I  have  for  it.  To  show  how  mixed  the  flowering  times 
are  this  spring,  I  may  add  that  at  the  same  time  and  place  Blackthorn 
{Prunus  spinosa),  usually  about  six  weeks  earlier,  was  still  largely  in  bud, 
and  a  fortnight  later,  at  Dundalk,  near  sea-level.  Marsh  Marigold  (Caltha 
pahistris)  another  March  flower,  was  just  at  its  best.         •      •• 

R.  Lloyd  Praeger. 
Dublin. 

Mr.  D.  C.  Campbell  sends  a  list  of  forty-nine  species  seen  in  flower 
about  Castlerock,  in  Co.  Derry,  at  end  of  November.  These  are  largely 
flowers  of  the  preceding  summer  still  lingering  on. 


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June,  1923.  The  Irish  Naturalist,  53 

JOSEPH   WRIGHT. 

Joseph  Wright  was  born  in  Cork  on  7  January,  1834, 
and  died  in  Belfast  on  7  April,  1923,  in  his  ninetieth  year. 
He  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  seventeen,  his  parents 
being  Thomas  Wright,  a  well-known  merchant  of  Cork, 
and  Mary  Dudley,  both  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
Family  tradition  asserted  that  the  Wrights,  a  Yorkshire 
family,  came  from  Saffron  Walden  to  Co.  Wexford  in  the 
time  of  Cromwell.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Friends' 
School,  Newtown,  Co.  Waterford,  and  early  developed  an 
interest  in  geology,  being  first  attracted  thereto  by  the 
conspicuous  fossils  of  the  Carboniferous  Limestone,  which 
occupies  the  trough  in  which  the  city  of  Cork  is  situated  ; 
it  was  largely  through  his  subsequent  work  on  these  rocks 
that  Little  Island  became  famous  as  a  hunting-ground  for 
the  fossils  of  this  formation.  His  first  published  contribution 
to  science  was  a  brief  paper,  "  Description  of  a  new  Palae- 
chinus,"  ^  read  before  the  Royal  Geological  Society  of  Ireland, 
on  9  March,  1864.  During  his  residence  in  Cork,  though 
closely  engaged  in  business,  he  devoted  most  of  his  leisure 
time  to  the  search  for  Carboniferous  Limestone  fossils,  and 
amassed  a  very  valuable  collection,  used  in  subsequent 
monographs  by  other  workers  ;  the  collection  itself  now 
forms  part  of  the  extensive  and  valuable  material  preserved 
in  the  British  Museum. 

In  1859-60  Joseph  Wright  was  resident  in  Trinity  College, 
Dublin,  assisting  the  Professor  of  Geology  ;  but  if  he  had 
any  schemes  for  adopting  science  as  a  profession,  they  did 
not  mature.  In  1867  he  came  from  Cork  to  Belfast,  where 
he  joined  Mr.  Malcolmson  in  estabHshing  the  "  Overland 
Tea  House."  A  year  later  he  married  Mary  Ann  Banks,  of 
Cork,  by  whom  he  had  four  daughters.  In  Belfast  he  spent 
the  rest  of  his  long  fife.  This  neighbourhood  offers  a  re- 
markably varied  field  for  the  geologist,  and  Joseph  Wright 
soon  found  fresh  palaeontological  interests.  The  Chalk  of 
northern  Ireland  is  so  hard  that  it  is  impossible  to  separate 
out  the  shells  of  the  minute  organisms  which  form  a  large 


1  Jouro.  R.  Geol.  Soc.  of  Ireland,  I.,  pp.  62-63 


54  ^^^  Irish  Naturalist.  Jun& 

proportion  of  the  rock,  as  can  be  done  with  the  Enghsh 
Chalk.  Mr.  Wright  discovered  that  the  white  material  in 
the  interior  of  the  flints  of  the  Chalk  is  less  resistant,  and 
from  this  new  source  he  worked  out  an  extensive  Chalk 
fauna  hitherto  unkno^vn,  laying  the  first  fruits  of  his  re- 
searches before  the  British  Association  at  their  meeting  in 
Belfast  in  1874.^  He  now  definitely  took  up  the  study  of 
the  Foraminifera  as  his  life  work,  and  until  failing  eyesight 
compelled  him  to  abandon  research  at  about  the  age  of 
eighty  he  never  swerved  from  this  allegiance.  Both  fossil  and 
recent  material  occupied  his  attention,  at  first  mainly  Irish, 
but  in  later  years  from  many  parts  of  the  world.  Having 
explored  the  local  Cretaceous  rocks,  he  passed  on  to  the  Lias, 
and  to  a  study  of  sponge  spicules  from  the  chert  of  the 
Carboniferous  Limestone  of  Ben  Bulben.  Then  he  turned 
to  more  recent  deposits,  and  made  extensive  researches 
into  the  microzoa  of  the  Glacial  and  Post-glacial  beds  of 
the  North  of  Ireland. 

Meanwhile,  in  1881,  under  a  grant  of  money  from  the 
Ro5'al  Irish  Academy,  in  company  with  F.  P.  Balkwill, 
dredging  for  Foraminifera  in  the  Dublin  area  had  been 
commenced,  with  excellent  results.^  Other  dredgings 
followed,  and  when,  in  1885,  on  the  inspiration  of  W.  S. 
Green  and  Prof.  Haddon,  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  under- 
took the  exploration  of  the  deeper  waters  off  the  west  coast 
of  Ireland,  \^^right's  services  were  immediate^  enlisted. 
The  writer  had  the  privilege  of  serving  as  one  of  the  scientific 
staff  on  the  third  of  these  expeditions,  held  in  1888,  when 
attention  was  concentrated  on  the  fauna  of  the  1,000- 
fathom  line  and  beyond.  On  that  occasion,  as  on  others, 
Wright's  cheery  optimism,  his  ready  adaptability  to  the 
rough  hfe  on  a  tug-boat  in  deep  water,  and  his  enthusiasm 
over  the  difficult  work  of  dredging  in  such  depths  were  only 
excelled  by  the  leader  himself,  W.  S.  Green. 

In  later  years  he  was  called  on  to  report  on  the  Fora- 
minifera of  various  extra-Irish  deposits.        He  did  much 

2  B.A.  Report,  1874  Sectoins,  pp.  95-96. 

^  F.  P.  Balkwill  and  J.  Wright  :  Recent  Foraminifera  of  Dublin  and 
Wicklow.     Proc.  R.  I.  Acad.    (Science),  2nd  ser..  III.,  pp.  5^5-550  (1880J. 


1923.  Joseph   Wright.  5^ 

laborious  work  in  conjunction  with  Mellard  Reade  on  Post- 
glacial beds  round  Liverpool,  and  from  Canada  and  other 
distant  places  clays  and  sands  arrived  for  his  examination. 

Joseph  Wright  was  one  of  the  most  generous  and  helpful 
of  men.  No  request  for  information  or  assistance  was  ever 
made  to  him  in  vain.  He  loved  to  show  and  demonstrate 
slides  from  his  great  collection  to  the  beginner  as  well  as  to 
the  expert  ;  and  many  people,  including  the  writer,  owed 
their  ii  st  glimpse  of  the  beauty  and  interest  of  the  Micro zoa 
to  him.  He  was  an  invaluable  member  of  the  Belfast 
Naturalists'  Field  Club,  and  contributed  much  to  their 
Proceedings.  The  Belfast  Natural  History  and  Philosophical 
Society,  and  the  Liverpool  Geological  Society,  elected  him  to 
honorary  membership,  and  the  Geological  Society  of  London 
made  him,  in  1896,  the  award  of  the  Barlow- Jameson 
fund.  To  the  present  generation  of  naturalists  he  was 
almost  unknown,  though  his  name  was  known  and  honoured  ; 
those  who  still  remain  who  were  privileged  to  work  with  him 
mourn  a  sincere  friend,  a  delightful  companion,  and  a  true 
naturalist. 

R.  Ll.  p. 


CANON  LETT'S    IRISH    SPHAGNA. 

Determined  by  J.  A.  Wheldon. 

The  herbarium  of  the  late  Canon  Lett  was  acquired 
by  the  Botanical  Division  of  the  Dublin  National  Museum. 
It  is  especially  rich  in  Mosses  and  Liverworts.  The  Museum 
is  indebted  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Wheldon  for  a  critical  revision  of 
the  peat-mosses  in  the  collection,  in  accordance  with 
Warnstorf's  fine  monograph  of  Sphagnum.  Dr.  W.  A. 
Lee  has  already  pointed  out  the  desirability  of  a  revised 
record  of  Irish  Sphagna  and  in  the  Irish  Naturalist  for 
February,  1922,  p.  18,  and  for  March,  1923,  p.  28,  has  given 
two  useful  hsts.  The  following  is  a  catalogue  of  the  Irish 
Sphagna  in  the  Lett  herbarium,  based  on  Dr.  Wheldon's 
examination  and  not  recorded  in  Dr.  Lee's  lists. 

T.  Johnson. 

A2 


56  The  Irish  Naturalist.  June, 

ADDITIONS  TO  Dp.  LEE'S  LISTS  OF  IRISH  SPHAGNA. 

See  I.X.  February,  1922,  p.  18,  and  March,  1923,  p.  28. 

Except  whers  otherwise  stated  the  specimens  have  all  been  collected  by 

Canon  Lett, 
S.  fimbriatum  Wils. 

38.     var.  validius  Card.,  f.  spectabile  W.,  sub-f.  anocladum  Est.  et 
Fax.     38. 

var.  intermedium  Russ.     38. 

S    Russowii  W.,  var.   Girgensohnioides  Russ.,   f.  pallescens  W.       38 
(Lett  and  Waddell). 

f.  virescens  Russ.     39. 

S.  fuscum  V.  Klinggr.,  var.  medium  Russ.,  f.  fuscescens  W.       18,  27, 
39  (Brenan). 

sub-f.  drepanocladum  W.     33. 
sub-f.  heterocladum  W.     18. 
sub-f.  orthocladum  W.     18. 
var.  pallescens  Russ.     27. 

S.  rubellum  Wils.,  var.  viride  W.     18,  37. 

var.  flavum  Jens.  ap.  W.     27  (Lett  and  McArdle). 
f.  quinquefarium  W.     27. 

var.   rubescens  W.      18,   27,   30,   38   (Stewart),    39   (Brenan). 

var.    violascens    W.     3     (Martin),   6.     16,    27,    36     (Stewart),    39 
(Brenan).     40  (Stewart). 

var.  purpurascens  Russ.       6,   10,   18,  27  (Lett  and  McArdle),   37, 

38.  39- 

f.  speciosum  W.     33. 

var.  versicolor  W.     3,   7,    16,    18   (Russell),   33,   35..   39. 

var.  sordidum  W.     37. 

S.  acutifoliura  Ehrh.,  var.  viride  W.     27,  33,  37,  39  (Brenan). 

f.  drepanocladum  W.     37,   38,  39. 

f.  heterocladum  W.     37. 
var.  pallescens  W.     27. 

f.  heterocladum  W.     39. 
var.  roseum  W.     16,  27,  39  (Brenan). 
var.  rubrum  Brid.     18,  30,  33,  38,  39. 
var.  versicolor  W.     18,  27,  39. 

f.  venustum  Wheld.     37. 

f.  deflexum  W,     7,  29,  35,  38. 

f.  densum  Wheld.     27.  35. 

f.  robustura.     24. 
var.  flavo -rubellum  W.      10,   15,  35,  39. 
var.  fiavescens  W.     i   (I.  Carroll),   7,    27,   30,    33     36,   37,   38, 

f.  drepanocladum  W.     7. 


19 -^a-  Wheldon  -Canon  Left's  Irish  Sphagna.  57 

S.  quinquefarium  \V.,   var.  viride  W.     2,  27,  33,  35,  37. 

f.  gracilescens  W.     33,  39. 

f.  mastigocladum  Wheld.     i. 
var.  flavum  W.     i   (Lett  and  McArdle),   27,   33,  35,   36. 
var.  pallens  W.     27. 

f.  heterocladum  W.     35. 
var.  roseum  W.     i,  2,  27,  39  (Brenan). 

f.  brachyanocladum  W.     27,  33. 
var.  versicolor  Russ.     i. 

f.  homocladum  W.     33. 

f.  heterocladum  W.     33. 

f.  drepanocladum  W.     36. 

S.  plumulosum  Roll.     20. 

var.  viride  W.     35,  37,  39  (Brenan). 

f.  laxum  W.     33,  39. 

f.  squarrosulum  W.     27,  38. 

f.  laete-virens  W.     38,  39  (Brenan). 

f.  griseum  W.     27,  35. 
var.  pallens  W.     f    laxifolinm  W.     27. 

f.  substrictum  W.     i    (Lett  and  McArdle). 
var,  coerulescens  Schlieph.     i,   16,   18,  27,  31,  38. 
var.  lilacinum  Spruce  in  Herb.     Stabler.     31. 

f.  orthocladum  W.     i    (T.  Carroll),    27,   31,  33,  35.  37. 

f.  compactum  W.     6,   18,  27,  30,  31,  33,  37. 

f.  delicatum  Wheld.     3,  30,  37,  38,  39. 
var.  purpureum  W.     i  (Lett  and  McArdle),  7,  18,  27,  31,  33,  38,  39. 

f.  robustum  W.     3,   18,  27. 

f.  gracile  W.     6,  38  (Lett  and  McArdle). 
var.  versicolor  \V.      i,   16,   18,  27,  33. 

f.  validum  W.     18,  27,  36,  37,  38. 

f.  tenellum  W.     3,  6,   12,   18,  27,   28,  33.  38. 

f.  ascendens  W.     i,   16,  27,  38. 
var.  flavofuscescens  W.     6,    7,   27    (Lett  and   McArdle),   35. 

f.  gracile  Wheld.     38. 
var.  ochraceum  W.,  f.  congestum  W.,   27,  38,  ^   . 

f.  immersum  W.,   27,  35,  38,  39. 

f.  amentiforme  Wheld.     31,   38. 

f.  orthocladum  Wheld.      i,  27,  38. 
var.  carneum  W.     27 

S.  moUe  Sull.     38. 

var.    molluscoides    W.,   f.    heterophyllum    W.,    sub-f.    pulchclium 
W.  38. 

sub-f.  tenerum  W\     38. 

sub-f.  squarrosulum  W.     38. 

sub-f.  typicum  Wheld.     38, 


58  The  Irish  Naturalist.  June, 

S.  compactum  DC,  var.  squarrosum  Russ.,  f.  densum  Card.     27. 
var.  subsquarrosum  W.     38,  39. 

f.  densum.  W,     27   (Lett  and  McArdle),     30,  31,  34,  36,  38. 

f.  divaricatum  W.     i    (Lett  and  McArdle),  33,  39. 
var,  imbricatum  W.,  f.  purpurascens  W.     38. 

f.  obscurum  W,     27   (Lett  and  McArdle),  39. 

f.  flavescens  Wlield.     27. 
var.  isophyllum  Wheld.     38. 

S.  squarrosum  Pers.,  var.  spectabile  Russ.,  f.  elegans  W.     38. 
f.  patulum  W.     36  (Brenan),   37. 
f.  robustum  W.     38. 
var.  subsquarrosum  Russ.  ap.  W.     38. 
f.  gracile  Russ.     27   (Waddell). 
f.  molle  W.     37,  38,  39  (Brenan). 
f.  densum  Russ.     38  (Stewart). 
f.  cuspidatum  W.     37,  38,  39. 
f.  hydrophyllum  W.     37. 
var.  imbricatum  Schimp. 
f.  silvaticum  Wlield.     37. 

S.  amblyphyllum  Russ.,  var.,  mesophyllum    W.,  f.  sylvaticum  Russ. 

27.   38,   39- 

sub-f.  imbricatum  W.     31. 
f.  molle  Russ.     6  (Lett  and  Waddell). 
var.  parvifolium  W.,  f.  Warnstorfii  W.  39. 

S.  pulchrum  W.,  var.  tuscofiavens  W.     31. 
f.  brachyhomalocladum  W.     31. 
var.  sordido-fuscum  W.     38. 

S    recurvum  P.  de  Beauv      16. 
var.  majus  Angstr.     7. 

f.  silvaticum  Russ.     i,   2,  27,  35^  38,  39 

f.  pulchellum  W.     6,  35. 

f.  subundulatum  W.     7,  37,  39. 

f.  sphaerocephalum  W.     27,  38,  39. 
var.  parvulum  W.,  f.  flavescens,     39. 

S.  serratum  Anst.,  var.  serrulatum  W.     38,   39   (Brenan). 

S.  cuspidatum  Ehrh.     var.  falcatum  Russ.     37. 

f,  molle  W.     sub-f.  polyphyllum  W,     i,  33. 

sub-f.  eurycladum  W.     30,   t8' 

sub-f.  tenellum  W.     18,  27 
f    rigidum  W.     sub-f.  pumilum  Grav.     33. 

sub-t.    pungens    Grav.     18,    27    (Lett    and     McArdle),    30, 

33.   36,   37.   39. 

sub-f.  gracile  W.     37,  39  (Brenan). 
sub-f.  aquaticum  W.     33,  37, 


I 


1923.  \\ HELDO^— Canon  Lett's  Irish  Sphagna.  59 

var.  submersum  Schimp.,   f.  crispatuiu  W.     30. 
f.  rigescens  W.,  sub-f.   robustum  W.     18,  38, 

sub-f.  subtilis  W.      18,  37,  38. 

sub-1.  densum  Ingh.  and  Wheld.     27,  39  (Brenan). 
var.  plumosum  Schimp.,   f.  remotum  W.     37. 

S    molluscum  Bruch.     23   (McArdle),  31. 

var.  vulgatum  W.,   f.  robustum  W.     i,  6,   16,   18,  37,  38 
f.  compactum  W.     2,   27,  36,  38. 

S.  subsecundum  Limpr.     6. 

var.  intermedium  \V.,   f.  subrufescens  Wheld.     36. 

S.  fallax  V.   KHnggr.,  var.  laxifolium  W.     7. 

S.  hercynicum  W.,   var.  Binsteadii  Wheld.     27. 

S.  inundatum  R.  et.  W.     27,  38. 
var.  ovalifolium  W.     3,  27. 

f.  brachycladum  W.     6,  7,   16,  27,  29,  37. 
f.  brachyanocladum  W.     27,  38. 
f.  eurycladum  W.     38. 
f.  densum  W.     2. 

sub-f.  brachycladum  W.     38. 
-  var.  lancifolium  W.,  f.  falcatum  Schliep.     38. 
f.  tenellum  W.     37,  38. 
f.  submersum  W.     38. 
f.   Jensenii  W.     27   (Lett  and  Waddell). 
var,   diversifoiium  W. 
f.  rufescens  W.     38. 

S.  auriculatum  Schimp.     27. 

var.  ovatum  W.,  f.  brachycladum  W.     27. 

f.  intortum  W.      i,  2,  27,  33. 

f.  variegatum  W.     27   (Lett  and  McArdle),   38. 

f.  pungens  W.     37. 
var.  cano-virescens  W.     27,  38. 
var.  racemosum  W.     39  (Stewart). 

S    aquatile  W.,  var.  sanguinale  W.,  f.  strictum  W.     38. 
var.  subfuscum  W.     39. 

S.  contortum     Schultz ,   var.     gracile     W.,    t.     falcatum     W ,    sub  f. 
fuscescens  W.      16,  27 

sub-f.  sordidum  W.    1. 


6o  The  Irish  Naturalist.  June, 

S.  crassicladum  W. 

var.  magnifolium  W,,   f.  fiuctuans  W.     38. 
f.  rufescens  W.     30,  40. 
f.  versicolor  W.     6  (Lett  and  WaddcU). 
var.  diversifolium  W.     40. 

var.  intermedium  W.,  f.    ovalifolium     W,,    sub-f.     breviramosum 
W.     27.  ' 

S.  bavaricum  W.,   var.  mesophyllum  W.     38, 

S.  rufescens  Nees  et  Hornsch.     i,   35,  38,  39. 

var.  magnifolium  W.,  f.  ruMulum  W.      i,  3,  8,  35,  38. 
f.  bicolor  W.     38. 

sub-f.  intortum  W.     38. 
f.  albescens  W.     37,  38. 
f.  virescens  W.     27,  33,  39  (Stewart). 
var.  parvulum  W.,   f.   fuscescens     W.,     sub-1.   intortum     W.     38. 
sub-f.  pulchrum  W.     38. 

S.  turgidulum  W.,  var.  teretiusculum  W.     27  (Lett  and  McArdle). 
var.  insignitum  W.     38. 
var.  fulvum  W.     27,  38. 

S.  imbricatum  Russ.     39. 

var.  cristatum  W.     10,   18,  39.  y 

f.  glaucescens  W.,  sub-f.  squarrosulum  W.  16,  37.          ^                            j 

f.  congestum  W.  39.  '^ 

f.  fuscescens  W.     18.           •                      .  a 

S.  papillosum  Lindb.     35. 

var.  normale  W.,   f.  majus  Grav.     27    37. 

sub-f.  subfuscum  Wheld.      i   (Lett  and  McArdle).     38. 
1.  squarrosulum  Ingh.  and  Wheld.     37.  .^ 

sub-f.    pulcherrimum    Irgh.    and    Wheld.     37     (Lett    and 
Waddell). 
f.  brachycladum  W.     37. 

sub-f.  pallescens  Wheld.     18,  27,  37,  39. 
sub-f.  Havofuscum  Wheid.     18,  37. 
f.  confertum  W.,  sub-f.   tuscoluteum  Wheld.     18. 
sub-f.  inundatum  Wheld.     27. 
sub-f.  pallidum  Wheld.     16 
var.  sublaeve  Limpr.     37. 
'     f.  validum  W.,  sub-f.  pycnocladum  W.     30. 

sub-f.  submersum  W.     27.  ^ 

sub-f.  fuscescens  W.     37. 
f.  bre\-iramosum  W.,   sub-f.  heterocladum  W.     18,   38. 

sub-f.  orthocladum  W.     38. 
f,  compactum  W.     3,  18,  27.  33,  37,  39  (Stewart). 


1923.  Wheldox — Canon  Letfs  Irish  Sph.igna.  61 

S.  cymbifoliiim  Ehrh.,  var.  glaucescens  W.,  f.  squarrosulum  Pers.       35. 
sub-f.  pycnocladum  W.     2,  38. 
siib-f.  immcrsum  W.     35. 
f.  brachycladum  W.     38. 
var.  pallescens  W.     i,  ij,   39. 

f.  confertum  Wheld.     33. 
var.  flavescens  W.     24,  27. 
f.  flagelliferum  Wheld.     3. 
f.  brachycladum  Wheld.      16,  38. 

f.  congestum  Wheld.     7,  33,  37,  38   (Lett  and  Waddell). 
var.  fuscescens  W.      i,   16,  20   (McArdle),    27,  35. 
var.  atroviride  Schlieph.     27. 
var.  rubescens  W.     37. 

S.  sub-bicolor  Hanipe.     i    (Lett  and  McArdle). 
var.  subcarneum  W.     33. 
var.  fuscescens  Russ.     r. 

S.  medium  Limpr.     24.  39. 
var.  pallescens  W.     37. 
var.  obscurum  W.     38, 
f.  fuscescens  W.     18. 

sub-f.     dasybrachycladum  W.      10. 
vai.  roseum  W.,  f.  abbreviatum  W.     10,  37. 

f.  congestum  W.     37, 
var    purpurascens  W.     10,   18,   33,  37,   38. 
var.  versicolor  W.,  f.  compactum  Wheld.     10,  37. 

National  Museum,  Dublin. 


62  The  Irish  Nahiralist.  June 

NOTES. 

ZOOLOGY. 

Curious  Sites  for  Robins'  Nests. 

Birds'  nests  have  been  seen  and  heard  of  in  pecuHar  places.  A  Robin 
here  which  has  commenced  building  operations,  and  is  at  present  engaged 
in  her  task,  has  chosen  a  most  noisy  spot— a  printing  office,  full  of  the 
clash'ng  of  linotypes  and  the  hammering  made  by  compositors  locking  up 
"  formes."  The  nesting  site  is  between  two  stacks  of  packages  of  bill- 
heads on  a  shelf  between  two  windows.  The  Robin  flies  through  one 
of  the  windows  (which  the  printers  have  purposely  left  open)  daily, 
carrying  feathers,  &c.,  for  its  new  home.  One  thing  is  noticed  :  if 
strangers  are  about,  no  matter  how  quiet,  the  Robin  seems  to  halt  a 
little  longer.     The  printers  take  a  great  pride  in  their  new  companion. 

P.S. — Another  Robin  has  commenced  building  operations  on  the  same 
shelf  as  the  first  in  our  comp.  room.  The  first  Robin  is  rearing  her  young 
while  the  male  is  attending  to  their  wants. 

W.    J.    MULLIN. 

Cookstown. 

On  March  22,  in  the  early  morning,  a  Robin  lighted  on  my  bedpost, 
and  after  announcing  itself  cheerfully,  started  building  her  nest  behind 
the  books  on  the  top  shelf  of  my  book-case.  After  breakfast,  the  room  was 
house  cleaned,  the  books  were  taken  down  and  the  nest  thrown  out  of  the 
window.  When  peace  was  declared,  the  housemaid  gathered  a 
handful  of  dead  leaves  and  put  them  where  the  bird  had  put  hers.  The 
invitation  was  accepted  and  the  nest  was  finished  on  April  i.  On  April  5 
there  were  two  eggs,  three  on  the  6th,  four  on  the  8th,  and  five  on  the  loth, 
when  she  started  to  sit.  In  the  early  mornings,  the  cock  often  came  into 
my  room,  and  shuffled  about  on  the  dressing  table  until  the  hen  flew  off 
the  nest  and  joined  him  outside.  On  April  22  she  never  left  the  nest,  and 
I  saw  him  at  work  for  the  first  time  ;  all  day  long,  he  vv'as  carrying  big 
worms  to  her.  When  it  was  dark,  he  was  in  the  nest  and  I  could  still 
hear  him  feeding  her.  On  the  23rd  he  was  no  longer  seen,  and  the  mother 
bird  was  busy  feeding  her  three  young  herself  with  wriggling  white  worms. 
I  would  like  to  know  whether  the  male  Robins  help  in  the  hatching  or  not  ? 

Strandtown,  Belfast.  Aileen  Smiles. 

Three  Robins  selected  curious  nesting  places  in  our  grounds  at  Ardaluin, 
near  Newcastle,  for  building  their  nests.  One  built  (last  year)  in  a  fruit 
basket' hanging  on  the  wall  of  the  garden  furnace-house,  the  door  of  which 
was  never  closed.  Two  others  this  season  (1922)  built  in  old  fruit  cans  ; 
one  of  these  was  on  the  ground  under  some  bushes.  We  fixed  another  old 
fruit-tin  up  among  the  branches  of  a  rhododendron,  in  which  a  third 
Robin  built,  laying  five  eggs. 

Patrick  and  Basil  Berry. 
Ardaluin,  Newcastle. 


1923.  Notes,  63 

The  Squirrel  in  Ireland. 

I  am  glad  Mr.  Armstrong  has  drawn  attention  in  the  May  number  to 
the  story  of  the  tame  Squirrel  in  connection  with  Queen  Maev  Although 
I  think  we  are  scarcely  justified  in  taking  the  contents  of  the  "  Tain  Bo 
Cuailnge  "  as  historical  evidence,  our  editor  Mr.  Moffat,  as  well  as  Mr. 
Le  Fany  and  myself,  are  satisfied  that  the  Squirrel  was  formerly  indige- 
nous in  Ireland.  The  only  problem  that  remains  to  be  solved  is  whether 
all  the  Squirrels  now  living  in  Ireland  are  indigenous  or  no.  Mr.  Moffat 
has  brought  forward  evidence  (in  the  April  number)  that,  so  far  as  eastern 
Ireland  is  concerned,  the  Squirrel  is  derived  from  the  stock  introduced 
into  this  country  in  the  latter  part  of  last  century.  It  is  probable  that 
the  Squirrel  was  also  entirely  destroyed  in  the  south-west  a  few  centuries 
ago,  but  I  am  not  satisfied  that  the  old  stock  was  altogether  exterminated 
in  the  west  of  Ireland.  I  am,  however,  quite  open  to  conviction,  and 
indicated  a  method,  in  my  original  article  (vol.  xxxi,  pp.  51-54),  which, 
in  my  opinion,  might  throw  further  light  on  the  question.  As  regards 
the  Irish  word  '  togmall  "  or  "  togan,"  which  had  been  rendered  as 
meaning  Squirrel,  Mr.  Forbes  in  his  dictionary  of  the  Scottish-Gaelic 
names  of  beasts,  birdb,  cSrc,  translated  "  taghan  "  or  "  taoghan,"  by 
Marten,  and  Dr.  Best  has  a  similar  reference.  There  is  no  reason  therefore 
to  assume  that  the  tame  animal  Queen  Maev  had  for  a  pet  was  a  Squirrel. 

Knockranny,  Bray.  R.  F.  Scharff. 


BOTANY. 

The  Cranberry  in  Glenasmole. 

On  the  slopes  east  of  the  Upper  Dodder,  opposite  the  plantation  behind 
Glenasmole  Lodge,  is  a  conspicuous  patch  of  wet  boggy  ground.  When 
crossing  this  in  May,  1922,  I  suddenly  found  myself  surrounded  by  a 
luxuriant  growth  of  Cranberry,  Vaccinium  Oxvcoccus,  just  coming  into 
flower.  This  appears  to  be  only  the  second  record  for  this  plant  in 
Co  Dublin,  it  being  known  to  Mr.  Colgan  only  from  "  a  boggy  hollow 
on  the  northern  face  of  Glendhu  Mountain  "  at  1,900  feet.^  The  elevation 
of  the  Glenasmole  station  cannot  be  more  than  800  to  900  feet. 

Rathgar,  Dublin.  A.  W.  Stelfox. 

Red  Cowslips. 

For  many  years  I  have  been  acquainted  with  two  small  patches  of  these, 
growing  a  few  yards  apart  in  an  old  pasture  on  limestone,  about  70  feet 
above  the  sea,  at  Greenwood,  near  Feltrim  Hill,  Co.  Dubhn.  Yellow 
Cowslips  are  abundant  on  the  same  ground,  as  are  Primroses,  but  at  a 
lower  level,  and  I  never  saw  any  red  ones  amongst  the  latter. 

Baily,  Co.  Dublin.  A.  L.  Massy. 


'•See  '    Flora  of  the  County  Dublin,  '  p.    129. 


64  The  Irish  Naturalist,  June,  1923. 

IRISH    SOCIETIES. 

ROYAL   ZOOLOGICAL   SOCIETY. 

A  splendid  example  of  Chapman's  Zebra,  recently  purchased,  is  one 
of  the  most  important  additions  made  for  some  time  to  the  collection  of 
animals  in  the  Gardens.  Other  recent  arrivals  include  a  number  of  Sooty 
Mangabeys,  a  Himalayan  Bear,  and  a  Leopard.  A  Zebu  calf  was  born 
early  in  March.  10,000  Loch  Leven  Trout  ova  and  5,000  Salmon  ova 
have  been  placed  in  the  hatcheries. 


BELFAST    NATURALISTS'   FIELD   CLUB. 

April  17. — The  annual  meeting  of  the  Club  was  held,  the  President 
(Rev.  W.  R.  Megaw,  B.A.)  in  the  chair.  The  reports  submitted  showed 
that  the  Club,  which  has  this  year  reached  its  diamond  jubilee,  is  in  an 
exceedingly  prosperous  condition.  The  membership  was  increased  by 
117  during  the  year,  and  now  stands  at  571,  and  the  finances,  under  the 
management  of  the  honorary  treasurer  (T.  Edens  Osborne)  showed  a 
corresponding  improvement.  The  office-bearers  for  1923-24  were 
appointed  as  follows  : — President,  J.  A.  Sydney  Stendall  ;  Vice-President, 
A.  P.  Hoskins  ;  Honorary  Secretaries,  A.  Albert  Campbell  and  Thomas 
M.  Deans  ;  Honorary  Treasurer,  T.  Edens  Osborne  ;  Honorary  Librarian, 
W.  M.  Crawford  ;  Honorary  Secretaries  of  Sections,  Robert  Bell  (geology), 
Nathaniel  Carrothers  (botany),  James  Orr  (zoology),  W.  A.  Green  (archae- 
ology), and  J.  R.  H.  Greeves  (junior).  Rev.  W.  R.  Megaw  and  S.  A. 
Bennett,  A.  MT.  Cleland  and  John  T.  Greeves  were  added  to  the  Committee. 

The  outgoing  Honorary  Secretary  (A.  MT.  Cleland)  was  cordially 
thanked  for  his  lengthy  and  energetic  service  to  the  Club. 

Reference  was  made  to  the  recent  deaths  of  W.  H.  Phillips  (a  foundation 
member),  W.  J.  Fennell,  F.R.I. B.A.,  and  Joseph  Wright,  F  G.S.,  all  of 
whom  took  an  active  part  in  the  Club's  work  in  bygone  days  Sympathy 
was  expressed  with  Mr.  Crawford  in  the  loss  of  his  wife  and  the  serious 
injuries  sustained  by  himself  in  the  recent  shocking  railway-crossing 
accident  at  Dunmurry. 

Rev.  Robert  Workman  (a  foundation  member)  and  Nevin  H.  Foster 
were  elected  Honorary  Members. 


July,  1923.  The  Irish  Nahirahsl.  65 

ON    THE    ORIGIN    OF    THE    IRISH    CATTLE. 

BY  R.    F.    SCHARFF,    B.SC,    PH.D. 

Many  different  breeds  of  cattle  are  kept  in  Ireland  at  the 
present  time,  but  the  farmer  does  not  trouble  himself 
much  about  their  origin.  It  is  the  yield  and  quality  of 
the  milk,  or  the  quant  it  3^  and  character  of  the  meat  that 
interest  him.  For  several  generations  past  various  breeds 
have  been  introduced  into  this  country  from  Great  Britain 
and  abroad.  It  is  not  my  intention  to  trace  the  original 
home  of  these  cattle.  What  I  hope  to  be  able  to  show 
is  what  kind  of  cattle  lived  in  Ireland  in  remote  historic  and 
even  in  prehistoric  times,  and  then  endeavour  to  ascertain 
where  these  cattle  were  domesticated.  For  it  is  evident 
that,  like  all  other  domesticated  animals,  the  ox  and  cow 
must  have  had  wild  ancestors.  It  is  possible  that  wild 
cattle  inhabited  Ireland  and  gave  rise  to  the  old  domestic 
stock.  But  we  must  carefully  sift  the  evidence  for  the 
belief  that  wild  cattle  inhabited  Ireland  and  were  domesti- 
cated in  this  country  by  the  early  inhabitants.  If  wild 
cattle  never  existed  in  Ireland,  some  early  settlers  must 
have  brought  their  domesticated  stock  with  them  from 
abroad.  Quite  a  number  of  interesting  questions  await 
an  answer.  Whether  they  can  be  answered  at  all  in  the 
present  state  of  our  knowledge  remains  to  be  seen.  But 
in  the  course  of  our  enquiries  I  think  we  shall  elicit  some 
valuable  information  which  has  not  yet  been  presented  to 
the  readers  of  this  magazine.  Moreover,  anything  that 
can  increase  our  knowledge  concerning  the  Irish  cattle  and 
their  past  history  must  be  of  value  and  interest. 

The  late  Sir  William  Wilde ^  recognised  four  distinct 
native  breeds  of  cattle  as  living  in  this  country  in  the  early 
part  of  last  century.  The  first  of  these  he  called  the  "  Old 
Irish  Cow."  It  was  of  small  stature,  long  in  the  back,  and 
possessed  moderate-sized,  wide-spreading,  sHghtly  elevated 
and  projecting  horns.      The  colour  of  the  breed  seems  to 

1  Wilde,  W.  :   On  the  modern  and  ancient  races  of  oxen  in  Ireland. 
Proc.  R.  Irish  Acad.,  vol.  vii.,  1858. 

A 


66  The  Irish  Naturalist.  -      July, 

have  been  mostly  red  or  black.  They  were  famous  milkers, 
required  little  care  and  abounded  all  over  the  plain  country. 
A  maich  smaller  breed  was  the  Kerry,  and  this  was  either 
red,  brindled  or  black  in  colour.  This  second  native  breed 
had  small  heads  with  rather  short  horns  turning  upward. 
Now  this  breed  still  exists  in  its  pure  form  in  the  mountains 
of  Kerry  and  Cork.  Formerl}^  it  seems  to  have  ranged 
all  over  the  country. 

The  third  race  or  breed  was  termed  the  "  Irish  long- 
horn  "  by  Sir  William  Wilde.  It  was  similar  to,  but  not 
identical  with  the  Lancashire  and  Craven  breed.  While 
many  heads  had  wide  spreading  horns  and  only  slightly 
curved,  the  great  majorit}^  of  the  horns  turned  in  so 
completely  that  they  crossed  either  in  front  or  behind  the 
mouth.  These-  cattle  were  generally  red  or  brindled  and 
grew  to  a  great  size.  The  thick  hide  was  valuable.  The 
breed  was  comimon  chiefly  in  Roscommon.  Even  in  Sir 
\Mlliam  Wilde's  time  it  was  almost  extinct,  and  had  been 
replaced  by  the  more  modern  ''  short-horn."  The  fourth 
breed  which  is  hornless,  was  known  and  is  still  known  as 
"  the  mo^dey,"  or  "  moyleen  " — probably  a  corruption  of 
the  Irish  w^ord  "  maotlin,"  meaning  a  hornless  cow.  It  is 
either  dun,  black  or  white  in  colour,  very  rarely  miottled. 

Of  these  four  native  breeds  which  existed  in  Ireland, 
according  to  Sir  WiUiam  Wilde,  about  a  hundred  years 
ago,  two  have  survived  to  the  present  day,  namely,  the 
Kerry  and  the  hornless.  The  former  is  still  largel}^  confined 
to  the  mountainous  region  of  the  south-west,  whereas  the 
other  is  only  found  in  a  few  examples  in  various  parts  of  the 
country  Prof.  Wilson  tells  us  that  there  are  one  or  two 
herds  picked  up  by  owners  who  wish  to  keep  the  breed 
alive.  He  entirely  disagrees  with  Sir  William  Wilde 's' 
statement  that  this  breed  is  ever  black.  He  is  positive 
about  its  being  always  yellow.  As  to  the  origin  of  the: 
hornless  cattle,  Prof.  Wilson  is  of  opinion  that  the}^  were 
originally  brought  to  Ireland  from  Scandinavia  many 
denturies  ago.^  i 

-f— ■ ^t: '■ ■ — -^ 

-  1  Wilson,  James:    The  ScaiTctinavian  origin  of  the  hornless  cattl^  of 
the  British  Isles,      Sc.  Pfoc.  R.  Dublin  Soc,  vol.  xii.  (N.S.),  1909. 


1923.  ScHARFF— (9w  the  Origin  of  the  Irish  Cattle.  67 

In  a  subsequent  paper,  Sir  William  Wilde  incidentally 
stated  that,  as  the  result  of  his  continental  travels,  he  had 
modified  the  views  previously  expressed  on  the  breeds  of 
Irish  cattle.  He  did  not  there  and  then  define  the  particu- 
lars in  which  his  opinions  differed.  He  evidently  meant  to 
do  so  later  on,  but  did  not.'^ 

Anyhow,  William  Youatt,  who  was  always  held  in 
esteem  as  an  authority  on  cattle,  was  positive  that  about 
a  hundred  years  ago  there  existed  only  two  distinct  breeds 
of  Irish  cattle.  These  were  what  he  calls  "  middle  and  long- 
horns,"  one  being  the  small  Kerry,  plainly  an  aboriginal 
breed,  and  the  other  of  much  larger  size  with  long  horns. 
His  suggestion  is  that  the  latter  was  probably  an  old  or 
partially  improved  Craven  or  Lancashire  beast.  Neverthe- 
less, Youatt  acknowledges  that  two  kinds  of  such  long- 
horns,  namely  a  larger  and  a  smaller,  may  be  distinguished, 
the  'atter  being  principally  found  in  the  North  of  Ireland. 
Although  the  characters  of  these  cattle  seemed  to  him 
essentially  different,  he  suggests  that  one  may  be  the 
•result  of  indifferent  or  bad  management  of  an  originally 
similar  stock.  It  seems  strange  that  the  author  omits  all 
reference  to  the  Irish  hornless  breed  which  has  been  alluded 
to  above. ^ 

Another  later  writer  agrees  with  the  opinions  expressed 
by  Youatt  concerning  the  presence  in  Ireland  of  two  breeds, 
viz.,  the  Kerry  and  the  long-horn.  .  He  contends  that  the 
latter  was  originally  an  inhabitant  of  the  western  parts  of 
the  British  Islands,  and  that  it  extended  over  nearly  the 
whole  plain  of  Ireland  and  even  the  greater  part  of  the 
mountains.  He  says  that  it  still  forms  the  prevailing  race 
of  the  country.  And  yet,  he  continues,  in  the  west  there 
exists  a  race  which  differs  in  almost  every  respect  that 
constitutes  a  breed  from  the  long-horns.  Whereas  Ireland 
and  the  western  parts  of  England  have  had  for  an  unknown 
period  a  race  of  cattle  having  long  horns  and  furnished  with 


3  Wilde,  W.  :    On  the  unmanufactured  animal  remains  belonging  to 

the  R.  Irish  Academy.     Proc.  R.  Irish  Academy,  vol.  vii.,  1859. 

*  Youatt,  W.  :   Cattle,  their  breed,  management  and  disease.     London, 

1834. 

A2 


68  The  Irish  Nakiralist.  July, 

thick  skins  and  abundant  hair  fitted  to  protect  the  animals 
against  long-continued  rain,  the  eastern  and  drier  districts 
have  been  inhabited  by  varieties  with  thinner  skins  and 
shorter  hair  and  horns.  Like  the  previous  writer,  Low  omits 
all  reference  to  the  Irish  moyley,  or  hornless  breed. ^ 

Long  before  the  beginning  of  the  last  centur\^  cattle 
were  imported  into  Ireland  with  the  result  that  the  breeds 
already  in  existence  in  that  country  became  altered  and 
modified  in  character.  Prof.  Wilson  tells  us  that  the  three 
large  breeds  that  were  then  brought  into  Ireland  were  the 
long-horns,  short-horns  and  Herefords.- 

It  seems  likely,  therefore,  that  the  long-horns  and  other 
breeds  of  cattle  found  in  the  lowlands  a  hundred  years  ago 
owe  their  presence  in  Ireland  to  such  importations,  and  that 
only  the  Kerry  cattle  can  be  looked  upon  as  an  aboriginal 
breed.  This  accords  with  the  views  supported  by  Prof. 
J.  McKenny  Hughes,  who  urged  that  even  before  the  wild 
ox  [Bos  primigenms)  had  entirely  disappeared  from  England, 
the  native  short-horn  was  present  in  Britain.  This  he 
describes  as  a  small  animal  about  the  size  of  the  Kerry 
breed,  remarkable  for  the  height  of  the  forehead  above  the 
orbits,  for  its  strongly-developed  occipital  region,  and  its 
small  horns  curved  inward  and  forward.  If  it  was  not 
indigenous,  he  thinks  it  must  have  been  introduced  by 
man  into  the  British  Isles  at  a  very  remote  period.  Nilson 
even  claims  that  it  was  once  wild  in  vSweden.  This,  remarks 
Prof.  Hughes,  is  the  native  breed  with  which  we  must 
start  in  all  our  speculations  as  to  the  origin  and  develop- 
ment of  the  British  oxen.^  He  considers  the  Kerry  cattle 
to  be  the  most  typical  examples  in  the  British  Islands  of 
this  what  he  calls  "  Celtic  short -horn,"  whereas  the  Chilling- 
ham  breed  is  the  nearest  representative  of  the  cattle  intro- 
duced by  the  Romans.  I  shall  again  allude  to  this  peculiar 
race  of  white  cattle  later  on. 

1  Low,  David  :  The  breeds  of  the  domestic  animals  of  the  British  Isles. 
London,  2  vols.,  1852. 

2  Wilson,  James  :  The  origin  of  the  Dexter- Kerry  breed  of  cattle. 
Scient.  Proc.  R.  Dublin  Soc.   (N.S.),  vol.  xii.,   1909. 

3  Hughes,  J.  McKenny :  On  the  more  important  breeds  of  cattle 
which  have  been  recognised  in  the  British  Isles  in  successive  periods. 
Archceologia,  vol.  Iv.,  1896. 


1923-  ScHARFF— 0«  the  Ofigin  of  the  Irish  Cattle  69 

One  of  the  latest  writers  to  study  the  Kerr}^  cattle  is 
Dr.  Lundwall,  who  came  to  Ireland  from  the  Agricultural 
College  of  Vienna  for  this  special  purpose.  As  the  result 
of  careful  comparisons  and  measurements  he  arrived  at 
the  conclusion  that  the  Kerry  cattle  are  practically  identical 
with  the  old  breed  of  cattle  living  in  Brittany.  This  leads 
him  to  the  suggestion  that  the  same  race  of  Celtic  tribes 
had  invaded  Brittany  as  well  as  Ireland,  and  brought  their 
cattle  with  them.^ 

There  is  not  much  more  to  be  gathered  from  recent 
authorities  as  to  the  nature  and  breeds  of  Irish  cattle  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  or  earlier  centuries.  We  must, 
therefore,  test  other  methods  in  tracing  the  development 
and  history  of  the  breeds.  Long  ago  when  the  early  tribes 
of  Ireland  still  retained  their  wandering  habits  and  moved 
about  wherever  the  herbage  afforded  sustenance  to  their 
cattle,  they  surrounded  their  temporary  homes  with  breast- 
works of  earth  and  stones,  and  surmounted  the  whole  with 
a  stake  fence.  When  further  security  against  wild  animals 
and  hostile  tribes  was  desired,  many  of  the  tribes  moved 
their  dwelhngs  to  the  lakes.  vShallow  ground  or  an  islet 
was  generally  chosen,  and  stakes  were  driven  into  the 
ground.  The  latter  were  probably  interlaced  with  saphngs, 
forming  a  stockade  which  rose  above  the  water.  On  this 
platform  were  erected  wooden  cabins  in  which  the  people 
hved.  Similar  lake-dwelhngs  are  known  from  Switzerland 
and  other  parts  of  Europe.  The  remains  of  several  hundreds 
of  such  "  crannogs  "  as  th'ey  are  called,  derived  from  the 
Irish  word  crann,  a  tree,  have  been  discovered  in  this 
country.  Many  of  the  lakes  in  which  these  crannogs  origi- 
nal y  stood  have  since  been  drained  so  that  the  structure 
of  these  lake-dwellings  can  be  closely  investigated.  More- 
over, the  weapons,  tools  and  ornaments  and  all  the  house- 
hold rubbish  including  the  remains  of  the  food  consumed, 
are  found  beneath  the  site  of  the  dwelUngs.  The  collection 
of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  in  the  National  Museum  con- 
tains hundreds  of  interesting  objects  obtained  by  a  careful 


*  Lundwall,  E.  :    Studien  iiber  das  irlandische  Kerry-Rind.        Mitt.  d. 
landwirt     Hochschule  f.  Bodenkultur,  Wien,  vol.  ii.,  1913- 


70  The  Irish  Naturalist.  July, 

examination  of  such  ancient  household  rubbish  heaps. 
Their  study  has  enabled  experts  to  date  approximately 
the  various  crannogs.  Now  among  these  finds  there  were 
a  large  number  of  skulls  of  cattle,  and  we  are  thus  able  to 
determine  what  breeds  existed  in  Ireland  in  early  Christian 
times.  A  particularly  large  horde  of  skulls  and  bones  of 
domestic  animals  was  discovered  in  the  bog  of  Lagore, 
near  Dunshaughlin,  Co,  Meath.  They  were  in  what  was 
undoubtedly  the  remains  of  a  crannog  of  over  500  feet  in 
circumference.  This  crannog  dates  from  the  loth  century, 
and  Sir  William  Wilde  describes  the  skulls  as  belonging  to 
the  straight-horned,  curved-horned,  short-horned  and  horn- 
less types.  Two  of  the  skulls  bear  the  character  of  the 
ancient  large  primigenius  race.  As  no  representative 
of  this  breed  has  ever  been  found  in  earlier  Irish  deposits, 
we  must  assume  that  in  the  loth  centur}^  we  already  had 
breeds  of  cattle  in  Ireland  which  were  imported  from  Great 
Britain  and  abroad. 

A  good  deal  of  confusion  exists  among  the  various 
writers  as  to  the  term  "  short-horn  "  and  "  long-horn." 
Sir  William  W^ilde  describes  the  Kerry  breed  as  having 
rather  short  horns  and  so  does  Youatt,  while  Hughes 
considers  it  as  the  most  t3^pical  example  of  the  Celtic  short- 
horn. Lydekker,  on  the  other  hand;  describes  the  horn  of 
the  Kerry  as  being  fine  and  long,  and  states  that  the  Kerry 
is  related  to  the  "  Welsh  runt  "  as  well  as  the  Highland  cattle 
of  Scotland  which  have  relatively  long  horns.  And  yet 
we  are  told  that  the  modern  shorthorn  is  a  breed  entirely 
distinct  from  the  Kerry.  The  confusion  in  terminology 
arises  from  the  fact  that  the  length  or  shortness  of  the 
horn  are  only  utilized  as  convenient  terms  of  description. 
It  is  not  so  much  in  terms  of  measurement  as  relatively  to 
the  size  of  the  animal  that  the  horns  may  be  described  as 
either  long  or  short.  The  horns  of  the  Highland  cattle 
only  appear  to  be  long  relatively  to  the  size  of  their  bodies, 
and  it  is  more  in  the  general  conformation  that  these  and 
the  Welsh  and  Irish  breeds  are  related  to  one  another.'  The 
breed  known  as  the  "  shorthorn  "  seems  to  be  a  compara- 

^  Lydekker,  R.  :    The  ox  and  its  kindred.     London,  1912. 


1923-  ScHARFF — On  the  Origin  of  the  Irish  Cattle.  yi 

lively  modern  one.  They  are  large  cattle  with  relatively 
short  horns  specially  fitted  by  their  early  maturity  for  the 
supply  of  butchers'  meat. 

There  are  certain  Irish  place-names,  like  "  Inishbofin," 
meaning  the  island  of  the  white  cow,  and  Lake  Bo  fin, 
which  seem  to  imply  the  former  existence  in  this  country  of 
white  cattle.  The  survival  in  Great  Britain  of  several 
herds  of  white  cattle  from  very  remote  times  has  given  rise 
to  a  great  deal  of  discussion  as  to  their  origin.  Although 
now  confined  in  large  parks,  they  were  formerl}/  allowed  to 
roam  about  freely  in  a  nearty  wild  condition,  and  some 
authorities  still  maintain  that  they  were  the  direct  de- 
scendants of  truly  wild  cattle.  The  white  cattle  in  these 
parks  are  not  all  of  the  same  kind.  The  most  famous  herd 
is  that  of  Chillingham,  in  Northumberland.  These  cattle 
are  small,  with  rough  white  hair  and  short  upwardly- 
directed  horns,  while  the  Chartley  herd  has  long  wide- 
spreading  horns.  In  the  Cadzow  herd  the  cows  are  hornless. 
There  are  many  minor  differences  among  the  various 
herds.  Some  of  these  cattle  exhibit  a  strong  tendency  to 
produce  black  calves,  and  these  are  of  course  always  weeded 
out.  Hence  Lydekker  suggests  that  all  these  herds  of  white 
cattle  had  originally  descended  from  a  black  stock.  This 
view  seems  more  plausible  than  that  put  forward  by  Prof. 
Hughes  and  accepted  by  Wilson,  that  the  white  cattle  are 
descended  from  an  Italian  stock  introduced  by  the  Romans. 
Cattle  similar  to  the  Chillingham  breed  certainly  appear 
to  have  existed  in  Great  Britain  in  Roman  times,  for  Meek 
and  Gray,  who  conducted  the  examinations  of  the  Roman 
site  at  Corstorpitum,  described  the  remains  of  an  apparently 
wild  ox  {Bos  sylvestris),  of  which  the  Uving  representative 
is  stated  by  them  to  be  the  Chillingham.-  Although  there 
is  no  direct  evidence  of  the  former  existence  in  Ireland  of 
similar  herds  of  white  cattle,  it  is  quite  possible  that  some 
examples  may  have  been  imported  from  England  or  Scot- 
land. That  importations  of  cattle  from  Great  Britain  and 
abroad  took  place  before  the  tenth  century  may  also  be 


2  Meek,  A.,  and  R.  A.  H.  Gray  :    Report  of  the  excavations  at  Corspor- 
p'itum.      Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  191 1. 


72  The  Irish  Naturalist.  July, 

gathered  from  historical  evidence.  The  interesting  and 
celebrated  tale  of  the  "  Tain  Bo  Cualnge  "  comes  to  us  in 
several  versions  from. about  the  tenth  century,  although 
the  original  is  probably  much  older.  It  contains  few 
descriptions  that  might  enable  us  to  identify  the  breeds  to 
which  allusion  is  made,  but  there  is  enough  to  justify 
the  belief  that  importations  of  cattle  had  already  occurred 
in  those  remote  times.  In  Mrs.  Hutton's  beautiful  poem 
in  which  the  whole  story  is  told  in  a  most  attractive  manner, 
we  read  of  a  bull  whose  hooves  and  head  were  white,  the 
rest  of  his  body  being  red,  as  though  he  had  been  dyed  with 
partar-red,  and  further  on  the  author  cells  us  how  More- 
vega  threatened  to  overwhelm  Cucullin  by  leading  against 
him  a  hundred  red  and  hornless  heifers.^  As  Prof.  Wilson 
has  shown,  the  Celtic  breed  of  cattle  was  originally  black 
and  horned.  Hence  the  red  bull  and  the  red  hornless 
heifers  were  importations  or  the  produce  of  such. 

One  of  the  foremost  investigators  on  the  origin  of 
European  domesticated  cattle  was  the  late  Prof.  Riitimeyer.  ^ 
The  discovery  in  Switzerland  among  the  rubbish  heaps  of  the 
lake-dwellings  of  a  large  number  of  skulls  and  skeletons 
of  cattle  that  had  lived  in  the  country  many  centuries  ago 
formed  the  basis  of  these  researches.  He  was  able  to  dis- 
tinguish the  remains  of  three  races  of  oxen,  all  of  which 
had  lived  in  Switzerland  during  the  Stone  Age.  It  cannot 
be  computed  with  any  degree  of  accuracy  about  how  many 
years  ago  Europe  passed  through  the  Stone  Age.  Certain 
it  is  that  it  was  long  before  the  Christian  era,  and  that  it 
lasted  for  miany  centuries.  The  Stone  Age  in  Europe  with  its 
primitive  culture  was  coexistent  with  a  high  state  of  civiliza- 
tion in  Egypt.  Riitimeyer  named  the  three  breeds  tro- 
choceros,  primigenius,  and  hrachyceros,  and  they  all  had 
been  domesticated  in  those  remote  times.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  to  the  last  race  belong  the  Kerry  variety 
of  cattle  and  that  of  Brittany.  The  same  breed  has  been 
met  with  in  ancient  deposits  in  Great  Britain,  in  Sweden, 
Holland,   and  many  other  parts  of  Europe.       The  name 

3  Hutton,  Mary  A.  :    The  Tain,      Dublin,  1907. 

*  Riitimeyer,  L.  :    Fauna  der  Pfahlbauten  der  Schweiz.       Basel,  1861. 


1923.  SCHARFF — On  the  Origin  of  the  Irish  Cattle.  73 

hrachyceros  had  already  been  applied  to  quite  another 
kind  of  ox,  so  that  Prof.  Owen  changed  it  to  longifrons. 
The  same  author's  statement  that  skulls  of  this  small 
form  of  ox  had  been  found  in  the  shell-marl  of  Ireland 
together  with  the  remains  of  the  Irish  Elk  lacks  confirma- 
tion, and  seems  to  me  extremely  improbable.  In  the 
extensive  Irish  peat  deposits  it  occurs  frequently,  but 
they  are  of  much  more  recent  date  than  the  undertying 
shell-marl.^ 

That  the  small  Celtic  breed  of  oxen  was  the  only  domesti- 
cated race  existing  in  England  and  Scotland  at  the  time  of 
the  Roman  invasion,  is  the  view  supported  by  Prof.  Boyd 
Dawkins.  ^  As  the  result  of  examining  the  bones  of  animals 
from  many  Roman  sites  he  concluded  that  this  breed 
abounded  in  Great  Britain  during  the  Roman  occupation 
to  the  exclusion  of  the  larger  breeds.  But  as  we  have 
noted  from  Meek  and  Gray's  researches,  a  larger  wild  breed 
appears  to  have  lived  in  northern  England  in  Roman  times. 
That  a  small  breed  was  the  only  kind  of  cattle  occurring 
in  early  Christian  times  and  during  the  preceding  ages  in 
Ireland,  is  proved  by  the  bones  and  teeth  of  oxen  found  in 
Irish  caves.  >  And  from  the  fact  that  in  the  ancient  Irish 
Brehon  Laws  the  measurement  of  a  cow  is  given  as  twenty 
hands  in  girth,  it  would  appear  that  the  usual  size  of  cattle 
was  then  much  smaller  than  it  is  now.  No  remains  of 
large  cattle  have  ever  been  met  with  in  the  older  Irish 
cave  deposits.  All  the  bones  and  teeth  belong  to  a  small 
breed  similar  to  but  somewhat  smaller  and  more  slender 
than  the  existing  Kerry  race.  The  view  that  wild  oxen 
ever  inhabited  Ireland  is  not  supported  by  palseontological 
evidence,  and  Prof.  Owen  must  have  been  misinformed 
when  he  stated  that  ox  remains  had  been  found  together 
with  those  of  the  Irish  Elk.  The  opinion  that  wild  oxen 
once  roamed  about  the  plains  of  Ireland  is  founded  mainly 
on  the  testimonv  of  Sir  William  Wilde  who  quoted  a  curious 


5  Owen,  Richard  :  A  history  of  British  fossil  mammals  and  birds. 
London,   1846. 

*  Dawkins,  W.  Boyd  :  British  Pleistocene  Alammalia.  Palaeontographical 
Society,   London,    1878. 


74  The  Irish  Naturalist.  July, 

Irish  zoological  poem  in  support  of  his  contention.  Mr. 
Eugene  Curry,  the  translator  of  the  poem,  believes  it  to 
be  as  old  as  the  ninth  century,  and  at  that  time  certainly 
the  wild  oxen,  if  they  ever  did  exist  in  Ireland,  must  have 
been  long  since  extinct.  The  interest  of  the  poem  lies  in 
the  fact  that  it  describes  how  Cormac  Mac  Art,  the  monarch 
of  Erin,  consented  to  liberate  his  prisoner  Finn  Mac  Cum- 
haill  when  a  ransom  of  two  of  every  wild  animal  of  Ireland 
were  brought  before  him  on  the  green  of  Tara.  The  poem 
relates  the  sequence  of  this  offer,  and  among  the  wild 
animals  are  mentioned  two  wild  oxen  from  the  Burren.^ 
This  place  in  County  Clare  is  as  inhospitable  and  wild 
as  any  in  Ireland,  and  would  be  just  the  place  where  herds  of 
wild  cattle  might  once  have  lived.  But  in  that  case  wild 
cattle  must  have  had  a  wider  range  in  still  more  remote 
times.  They  would  have  existed  in  every  suitable  district 
in  Ireland  and  have  left  some  trace  of  their  former  presence 
in  the  more  ancient  deposits,  where  they  are,  as  far  as  we 
know,  completely  absent.  Hence  I  venture  to  think  that 
without  much  stronger  evidence  we  are  not  entitled  to 
conclude  that  wild  cattle  inhabited  Ireland.  I  believe  that 
the  small  Celtic  breed  (which  is  known  as  Bos  longifrons  or 
brachyceros)  was  brought  to  Ireland  long  ago,  certainh^ 
in  pre-Christian  times  by  the  early  settlers,  and  that  no 
wild  race  ever  inhabited  the  country.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  wild  cattle  existed  in  Great  Britain,  as  I  have  already 
pointed  out. 

Types  of  cattle  similar  to  those  living  in  Ireland  in  those 
remote  times  live  in  Great  Britain  and  the  continent  of 
Europe  during  at  any  rate,  part  of  the  Stone  Age.  It  has 
been  argued  that  this  small  breed  must  have  been  domesti- 
cated in  Europe  from  a  wild  ancestor,  but  we  are  specially 
indebted  to  the  Swiss  zoologist,  Dr.  Duerst,  whose  brilliant 
researches  have  traced  the  origin  of  the  breed  to  another 
continent.  Nearly  25  years  ago  he  showed  that  the  short- 
horn cattle  of  Asia  Minor  and  of  north  and  east  Africa 
.  undoubtedly     belong     to    the     brachyceros     [=longifrons) 

~  Wilde,  W.  :  On  the  unmanufactured  animal  remains  belonging  to  the 
Academy.      Proc.  R.  Irish  Academy,  vol.  vi\,   i860. 


.1923.  ScHARFF— On  the  Origin  of  the  Irish  Cattle.  75 

race  of  domestic  cattle.  And  he  argued  that  this  breed 
must  have  originated  in  Asia,  and  have  been  domesticated 
there  long  before  the  commencement  of  the  culture  of  the 
Babylonians.'  Prof.  Keller,  who  was  able  to  identify  th.s 
breed  of  ox  on  many  of  the  ancient  monuments,  pleaded  in 
favour  of  its  African  origin.-  The  excavations  conducted 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington 
at  Anau  in  Turkestan,  however,  enabled  Duerst  to  resume 
his  investigations  into  the  origin  of  our  small  race  of  cattle. 
In  the  lowest  deposits,  all  the  bones  of  oxen  were  those  of 
a  wild  species  apparently  Bos  namadicus  of  Falconer  and 
Cautle3\.  which  is  an  extinct  Asiatic  wild  ox.  It  was  only 
in  the  upper  layers  that  domestic  cattle  bones  made  their 
appearance.  These  belonged  to  a  larger  breed  than  Bos 
hrachyceros,  and  were  long-horned.  The  same  breed  lived 
in  Egypt,  but  there  is  evidence  for  the  belief  that  it  gradually 
diminished  in  size.  It  was  also  known  in  Mesopotamia 
during  Babvlonian  times,  about  4,000-5,000  B.C.  Chinese 
records  place  the  arrival  in  China  of  the  long-horned  ox  in 
the  year  3468  B.C.  It  has  been  ascertained  at  Anau  that 
the  earliest  remains  of  the  domestic  ong-horned  cattle 
appeared  approximately  in  the  year  8000  B.C.  Already 
2,900  years  later  there  are  dist  net  evidences  in  th^  Anau 
deposits  that  the  large-homed  breed  had  not  only  become 
smaller  in  size,  but  that  its  horns  had  diminished  in  length. 
It  had,  in  fact,  become  metamorphosed  into  a  short-homed 
race  which  cannot  be  distinguished  from  the  European 
Bos  taiirus  hrachyceros  or  longifrons.  Whether  this  di- 
minution in  size  was  due  to  insufficient  nourishment,  the 
pairing  in  an  immature  condition,  or  to  changes  in  the 
cHmatic  conditions,  or  to  a  combination  of  these  causes, 
adverse  influences  no  doubt  acted  on  the  old  breed  in  the 
production  of  the  new  one.  It  was  not  in  Turkestan  alone 
that  the  originally  large  and  stately  ox  was  transformed 
into  the  stunted  short-homed  form.  A  similar  change 
took  place  in  Mesopotamia.     Dr.  Duerst  therefore  expresses 


1  Duerst,  J.  U,  i    I)ie  Kinder  von  Babylonien.   Assyiien  .unci  Egyptea 
und  ihr  Zusammenhang  mit  den  Rindern  der  alten  Welt.   Zurich,  1899. 

2  Keller,  C.  :    Die  Abstammung  der  alteren  Haustiere.       Zuach,  1902, 


76  The  Irish  Naturalist.  July,  1923. 

the  opinion  that  the  ox  of  Turkestan,  which  underwent 
this  transformation  at  approximately  7,000  years  before 
the  Christian  era,  finally  reached  Europe  after  travelling 
with  the  early  Asiatic  invaders  through  southern  Russia.^ 
Thus  the  ancestors  of  the  Irish  Kerry  cattle  which  had 
their  origin  in  Asia  probably  reached  Ire  and  from  the 
cont'nent  during  the  late  Stone  Age. 


NOTES. 

Homing:  Instinct  in  the  Swift. 

On  the  evening  of  19  April  last  I  was  on  the  look-out  for  Swallows, 
whose  arrival  had  been  reported  to  me  the  previous  day,  when  I  suddenly 
saw  three  Swifts  flying  from  the  south.  They  flew  around  in  the  usual 
circles  over  our  garden  for  some  minutes,  when  one  bird  separated  from 
the  others  and  swept  down  at  great  speed,  but  quite  silently,  and  dashed 
past  the  north  side  of  the  chrrch,  and  then  rising  again  joined  the  others. 
This  performance  was  repeated  four  times,  after  which  the  bird  remained 
with  the  others,  flying  about  over  the  ruins  of  the  new  barracks,  where 
members  of  the  species  nested  in  former  years.  This  occurred  between 
6.30  and  7  p.m.  I  kept  the  birds  under  constant  observation,  and  just  at 
8  p.m.,  one  bird  again  separated  itself  from  the  others,  a  fourth  bird  had 
in  the  meantime  arrived,  and  dashed  down  past  the  north  side  of  the 
church  about  six  times  and  eventually  roosted  there. 

As  I  had  been  keeping  careful  and  constant  watch  in  the  garden  for 
some  days,  it  is  evident  that  these  birds  had  just  arrived.  The  north  side 
of  the  chvrch  is  much  enclosed  by  houses,  the  hill  rising  rather  abruptly 
just  there,  yet  two  or  three  pairs  of  Swifts  nest  there  every  year.  It  would 
be  a  most  unlikely  place  for  any  stray  Swift  to  visit,  and  hence  it  may  be 
assi  med  that  the  bird  in  que  tion  had  either  nested  there  or  been  reared 
there.  Otherwise  why  didn't  the  other  three  birds  pay  it  a  visit  also  ? 
It  is  very  interesting  to  note  then  that  within  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  of  its 
arrival  at  its  native  town,  the  bird  actually  visited  its  old  nesting  haunt, 
and  roosted  there  that  night  as  it  did  also  the  following  nights.  I  may 
add  that  in  this  district  our  spring  migrants  have  been  exceptionally  early 
on  their  arrival  this  year. 

W.  M.  Abbott. 
Fermoy. 


1  Duerst,    J.   M.  :     Animal  remains    from    the  excavations  at    Anau 
(Turkestan).     Carnegie  Institution.  Washington,  no.  73,  1909. 


August,  1923.  The  Irish  Nahirahst.  77 


FOOD    OF   THE    IRISH    SOUIRREL. 

BY    C.    B.    MOFFAT. 

It  has  been  suggested  to  me  that  a  study  of  the  feeding 
habits  of  the  Squirrels  now  resident  in  Ireland  should 
yield  results  that  might  be  helpful  towards  a  solution  of 
the  question  whether  these  animals  are  entirely  derived 
from  an  introduced  stock,  or  may  be  in  part  descended  from 
Squirrels  of  that  aboriginal  stock  that  inhabited  the 
old   Irish  forests  in  by-gone  days. 

As  I  kept  pretty  careful  notes  on  the  feeding  of  these 
animals  in  County  Wexford  for  about  twelve  years  (from 
the  time  of  their  arrival  at  Ballyhyland  in  the  summer  of 
i8go,  until  the  year  1902,  after  which  my  opportunities 
for  continuing  such  notes  became  much  fewer),  I  think 
it  may  in  some  degree  meet  this  suggestion  if  I  now  lay 
before  readers  of  the  Irish  Naturalist  a  brief  summary  of 
the  results. 

It  must,  of  course,  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Squirrel's 
diet  in  different  localities  must  vary  to  some  extent  accord- 
ing to  the  nature  of  the  choice  of  foods  offered.  I  will  have 
to  advert  to  one  rather  significant  difference  between  the 
feeding  habits  observed  in  Co.  Wexford  and  those  noted 
during  visits  to  Fassaroe,  Co.  Wicklow.  But  I  believe 
that  the  choice  of  foods  offered  in  the  woods  about  Ballyhy- 
land and  in  the  surrounding  area  at  all  seasons  of  the  year 
was  sufficiently  large  to  give  a  very  fair  indication  of  the 
manner  in  which  a  Squirrel  would  seek  to  support  himself 
in  any  part  of  Ireland  to  which  he  might  be  transferred. 

The  Squirrel's  principal  supply  during  all  the  years 
when  I  had  him  under  notice  in  Co.  Wexford  was  derived 
from  trees  belonging  to  five  famihar  species,  which  I  name 
in  the  order  of  their  importance  to  the  animal  : — ^the  Scotch 
Fir  or  Pine  (Pinus  sylvestris),  the  Larch  {Larix  eiiropcBa), 
the  Beech  {Fagus  sylvatica),  the  Spruce  Fir  {Picea  excelsa), 
and  the  Oak  [Quercus  rohur).  Next  in  importance  to  these 
five  trees  came  the  innumerable  kinds  of  fungi  on  which  the 


78  The  Irish  Naturalist.  August, 

Squirrel  feeds  most  extensively  during  the  summer  and 
autumn  months.  After  the  fungi  I  place  foods  derived  from 
a  few  other  trees  less  largely  patronised  than  the  five  I 
named  first.  These  (according  to  my  notes)  are  the  Spanish 
Chestnut  (Castanea  saliva),  the  Maple  {Acer  campestre) ,  the 
Hawthorn  {Crataegus  oxyacantha) ,  the  Yew  {Taxus  baccata), 
and  the  Silver  Fir  {Abies  pectinata). 

I  do  not  find  the  Ash,  Elm,  or  Sycamore  mentioned, 
though  it  is  probable  that  the  seeds  of  ail  may  be  occasion- 
ally consumed.  To  the  list  of  foods  I  must,  however,  add 
the  common  Blackberry,  and  I  have  reason  to  think  that 
Bilberries  sometimes  also  furnish  a  meal. 

Now  as  to  the  extent  of  the  Squirrel's  dependence  on 
each  of  the  named  sources  of  supply,  I  will  take  the  various 
trees  in  order. 

(i)  The  Scotch  Fir. — This  tree  is  placed  first  because  its 
cones  are  abundantly  consumed  by  the  Squirrel  during 
every  month  of  the  year,  and  because  it  can  always  be 
relied  on  to  bear  an  abundant  crop.  The  fresh  green  cones 
are  first  attacked  in  a  forward  year  in  June,  otherwise  in 
July  ;  but  the}^  continue  to  be  extensively  eaten  throughout 
the  whole  year,  and  yield  a  supply  so  unfailing  as  to  render 
any  idea  of  a  winter  hoard  for  the  Squirrel  absurdly  un- 
necessary. During  the  winter  months,  and  especially  in 
December  and  January,  the  Squirrel  also  feeds  largely  on 
the  buds  and  young  flowering  shoots  of  this  Pine,  which 
continue  to  be  eaten  until  May. 

(2)  The  Larch. — The  utility  of  this  tree  is  in  many  years 
quite  equal  to  that  of  the  Pine,  for  its  cones  are  an  equally 
favourite  food  from  the  time  when  they  are  attacked  in 
their  green  stage  in  June  or  July  until  the  next  crop  is 
ready,  or  for  several  m.onths  longer  if  the  next  crop  should 
fail.  The  tree  must,  however,  be  put  second  to  the  Pine, 
because  it  cannot  be  trusted  to  produce  a  crop  of  cones 
every -year.  In  1891,  for  example,  it  produced  none  in  the 
Ballyhyland  neighbourhood,  and  in  1893  it  was  almost  a 
total  failure.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year  (chiefly  in 
February),  the  buds  of  this  tree,  as  well  as  the  cones,  are 
eaten. 


1923-  Moffat — Food  of  the  Irish  Squirrel.  79 

(3)  The  Beech. — At  two  seasons  of  the  year  the  Beech 
is  of  great  importance  to  the  Squirrel.  In  a  year  in  which 
beech-mast  is  plentiful,  it  is  preferred  to  every  other  food,  so 
that  from  the  middle  of  August  until  sometime  in  October, 
even  the  Pine  and  Larch  are  neglected.  Unfortunately  the 
crop  of  beech-mast  is  quite  as  uncertain  as  that  of  larch- 
cones,  and  totally  failed  in  Co.  Wexford  both  in  1891  and 
in  1893.  In  spring,  however,  the  Beech  again  becomes 
a  source  of  supply,  and  in  two  different  ways.  In  April, 
when  the  beech-leaves  are  at  their  greenest,  the  ground  may 
sometimes  be  seen  literally  carpeted  with  thousands  of 
these  leaves,  which  the  Squirrels  have  bitten  off  and  dropped, 
eating  merely  the  fresh  leaf-stalks,  for  which  they  evidently 
have  an  extraordinary  relish.  And  during  the  greater  part 
of  May,  the  animals  spend  much  of  their  time  grubbing  up 
the  seedhng  Beeches  to  eat  the  succulent  underground 
parts  of  the  plant.  It  was  quite  common  to  see  four  or 
five  Squirrels  on  the  ground  at  this  work  at  once  in  years 
of  a  good  beech-harvest. 

(4)  The  Spruce  Fir. — The  green  cones  of  the  Spruce 
are  pretty  freely  eaten  from  July  onwards  until  October, 
and  occasional  meals  of  the  same  food  are  made  during  the 
winter  and  early  spring  months.  May  and  June  are  the 
only  months  in  which  I  have  seen  no  trace  of  the  Spruce 
being  fed  on.  Besides  its  cones,  the  young  flowers  of  this 
tree  are  a  tempting  morsel,  for  w^hich,  early  in  the  year,  the 
Squirrel  bites  off  the  3^oung  shoots,  so  as  to  get  at  the  buds 
which  would  otherwise  be  protected  by  the  spines  of  the 
foliage  above  and  below  them. 

(5)  The  Oak.—Om  native  Quercus  robur  comes  only 
fifth  in  the  list  of  useful  trees,  for  though  its  acorns  are 
certainly  eaten,  they  seem  to  be  held  in  very  little  esteem 
and  in  any  case  they  only  furnish  food  during  three  months 
(September,  October,  and  November).  If  a  winter  store 
were  wanted,  they  might,  perhaps,  be  hoarded,  but  I  have 
never  seen  our  Wexford  Squirrels  hoarding  food,  and  they 
certainly  have  no  need  to.  The  Oak,  it  is  true,  yields  other 
foods  besides  its  acorns.  At  least  three  kinds  of  galls  found 
on  this  tree  are  much  eaten.     The  very  abundant  "  marble 

A2 


8o  The  Irish  Naturalist.  August, 

gall  "  {Cynips  Kollari)  is  frequently  bitten  through  during 
the  winter  months  (December  to  March),  for  the  sake,  I 
presume,  of  a  meal  at  the  expense  of  the  imprisoned  insect. 
The  almost  equally  abundant  ''flat  button  gall "  (Neu- 
roterus  lenticularis)  is  licked  off  from  the  under-surface  of 
the  shsd  oak-leaves,  for  which  the  Squirrel  searches  under 
the  trees  at  mid-winter.  And  in  June  the  beautiful  "  cherry- 
gall  "  (Cynips  quercusjolii)  is  crunched  up  where  it  grows, 
on  the  under-side  of  the  fresh  leaves.  Probably  some  of 
the  other  galls  are  similarly  treated.  A  lichen  that  grows  on 
the  trunks  of  oaks  is  also  eaten  in  May  and  June,  if  not  at 
other  times  also.  One  cannot,  however,  regard  either  the 
lichens  or  the  galls  as  capable  of  affording  substantial  food 
in  the  absence  of  other  fare. 

(6)  The  Spanish  Chestnut. — As  might  be  expected,  the 
Squirrel  greatly  enjoys  the  fruit  of  this  tree  when  he  can 
get  it.  It  is,  however,  nowhere  very  abundant,  and  its  crop 
is,  in  this  country,  very  uncertain.  October  is  the  principal 
month  in  which  it  is  available. 

(7)  The  Maple. — Another  tree  too  scarce  to  be  accorded 
great  importance,  but  much  frequented  by  Squirrels  in 
October  for  the  sake  of  its  seeds,  and  in  November  and 
December  for  its  buds,  which  seem  to  be  greatly  liked. 

(8)  The  Hawthorn. — Haws  are  sometimes  eaten  in  a 
winter,  and  would  doubtless  get  larger  custom  if  other  and 
better-liked  foods  were  not  so  abundant. 

(9)  The    Yew. — Occasionally    a    Squirrel    indulges    in 
feast  of  yew-berries. 

(10)  The  Silver  Fir. — Young  shoots  of  this  tree  are  bitten 
off  in  early  summer  (chiefly  in  June),  and  some  food  must  be 
obtained  from  them.  The  cones  of  the  Silver  Fir  are,  I 
think,  never  eaten. 

The  above-named  ten  are  all  the  forest -trees  in  which  I 
have  any  proof  that  our  Co.  Wexford  Squirrels  fed. 

Of  the  fungi  I  Vv'ill  not  say  much,  as  I  have  little 
acquaintance  with  them  ;  but  the}^  are  certainly  a  very 
substantial  part  of  the  Squirrel's  fare,  especially  in  Ma}^  and 
June,  and  again  in  September  and  October.  Some  that  are 
commonly   considered   very   poisonous,   such   as   the   well- 


1923-  MoFi^AT  -Food  of  Uie  Irish  Squirrel.  8i 

known  "stump  mushroom"  [Hy.pholoma  fasciciilare),  are 
readily  eaten.  Unlike  most  of  the  trees  above-named,  fungi 
must  always  have  been  readily  obtainable  in  Irish  woods  ; 
but,  of  course,  they  are  only  plentiful  during  about  six 
months  of  the  year. 

Blackberries  and  Bilberries  may  bo  classed  rather  as 
dainties  than  as  articles  of  diet,  and  I  have  no  proof  that 
they  are  more  than  occasionally  eaten. 

Some  surprise  may,  however,  be  expressed  that  I  liave 
not  mentioned  the  Hazel  [Corylus  Avellana).  As  the 
Squirrel's  love  both  of  eating  and  of  storing  hazel-nuts  is 
almost  proverbial,  an  explanation  is  evidently  needed  for 
this  omission. 

The  cause  is  partly  local.  In  i\Ir.  Barrington's  woods  at 
Fassaroe,  I  often  saw  the  remains  of  hazel-nuts  that  had 
been  eaten  b}-^  Squirrels,  though  I  never  saw  anything  of 
the  kind  near  Ballyhyland. 

The  reason  for  the  difference,  however,  is  that  in  Mr. 
Barrington's  woods  the  Hazel  grew  intermixed  with  the 
Larch  and  Pine,  in  whose  branches  the  Squirrels  habitually 
fed,  so  that  they  had  not  to  leave  their  ordinary  feeding- 
grounds  to  go  nutting.  At  Ballyhyland  we  had  no  Hazel 
in  the  woods  of  mixed  timber  in  which  the  conifers  grew. 
There  was  abundance  of  Hazel  in  the  natural  oak-wood  that 
occurred  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  ;  but — as  I 
observed  in  a  previous  article — the  Squirrels  avoided  this 
wood,  showing  that  they  did  not  care  sufficiently  for  either 
hazel-nuts  or  acorns  to  travel  the  short  distance  (not  half 
a  mile)  that  parted  the  nearest  bit  of  natural  forest  from  a 
plantation  yielding  larch-cones  and  pine-cones. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  note  that  an  overwhelming 
preponderance  of  the  food  on  which  our  Irish  Squirrels 
appear  to  subsist  at  the  present  day  is  food  that  could  not 
have  been  obtained  in  any  of  the  natural  woods  of  old 
Ireland  since  the  time  (whenever  that  may  have  been)  of 
the  practical  disappearance  of  our  native  Scotch  Fir.  The 
Squirrels  that  hved  in  Irish  woods  since  the  extinction  of 
that  tree,  and  before  the  introduction  of  the  present  stock 
of  conifers  and  beeches,  must — if  their  tastes  at  all  resembled 


82  The  Irish  Naturalist.  August, 

those  of  our  modern  Squirrel — have  subsisted  chiefly  on 
acorns,  hazel-nuts,  fungi,  and  such  minor  dainties  as  haws, 
blackberries,  and  various  oak-galls.  They  would,  I  think, 
have  found  it  absolutely  necessary  either  to  hibernate  or 
to  lay  up  a  winter  store  ;  for  of  the  above-mentioned  foods, 
only  the  haws  and  some  of  the  oak-galls  would  be  obtain- 
able in  the  winter  months,  and  none  of  them  could  be 
trusted  in  a  hard  season  to  last  the  winter  through. 

Our  modern  Squirrel  does  not,  in  my  opinion,  undergo 
even  a  partial  hibernation.  Daily  throughout  the  winter 
he  is  to  be  seen  abroad  in  the  trees,  as  numerously  as  in 
the  height  of  summer,  and  as  well  provided  with  food.  If 
he  ever  stores  up  nuts  or  acorns  I  have  no  evidence  of  it, 
and  it  could  only  be  the  survival  of  a  habit  for  which  there 
is  no  longer  any  use.  I  do  not  think  an  animal  of  such 
easy-going  ways  could  ever  have  bridged  the  gulf  between 
the  felling  of  the  last  Irish  pine-forest  and  the  re-plantation 
of  the  country  with  our  present  stock  of  coniferous  trees. 
If  he  did  so,  he  must  have  had  some  means  of  subsistence 
to  which  his  present  descendants  do  not  resort. 


IRISH     SOCIETIES. 

BELFAST  NATURALISTS'  FIELD  CLUB. 

May  19.— Excursion  to  Black  Mountain. — Forty-five  members 
assembled  at  Wood  vale  Park  at  2.30,  and  under  the  conductorship 
of  Mr.  Robert  Bell,  walked  to  the  site  of  the  prehistoric  flint  factory  on 
the  Black  Mountain,  on  the  east  side  of  the  hill  at  an  elevation  of  about 
eight  hundred  feet.  Two  areas  have  been  carefully  dug  over,  and  have 
yielded  a  large  number  of  flint  flakes,  but  comparatively  few  implements, 
and  these  of  a  very  early  rude  t3^pe.  The  finds  include  implements  with 
spurs,  the  use  of  which  is  unknown  ;  a  leaf-shaped  implement  of  proto- 
Solutrian  type,  an  occasional  antler  of  the  red  deer,  scrapers,  hammer- 
stones,  and  cores. 

The  party  got  to  work  with  hammers,  pocket  picks  and  walking  sticks, 
and  quite  a  considerable  number  of  specimens  were  unearthed. 
Few  plants  of  special  interest  were  noted. 

At  a  short  business  meeting  (Rev.  W.   R.  Megaw,  B.A,,  presiding), 
nine  senior  and  seven  junior  members  were  elected. 


1923.  Irish  Societies.  83 

June  2.  Excursion  round  the  Antrim  Coast. — Conducte  I  by 
R.  J.  Welch,  a  party  of  90  members  and  friends  motored  from  Belfast  via 
Larne  and  Cushendall  to  Ballycastle,  and  thence  back  via  Armoy  and 
Ballycastle  to  Belfast.  For  the  whole  distance  the  route  lay  through 
country  of  high  interest  to  the  naturalist,  but  the  travelling  was  too 
continuous  to  allow  of  any  original  work  being  done.  The  well-known 
and  striking  geological  features  of  the  coast  were  seen  to  advantage, 
and  many  of  the  characteristic  plants  were  noted  from  the  chars-a-banc. 
The  members  of  the  new  Route  Field  Club  joined  the  party  at  ^Nlurlough. 
A  very  enjoyable  day  was  spent. 

June  16. — Excursion  to  Braid  Valley. — Fifty-eight  members  and 
friends  journeyed  to  the  valley  of  the  Braid  under  the  conductorship  of  Mr. 
J.  Skillen.  Slemish  Mountain,  a  volcanic  neck  (1,437  feet),  hallowed  by  the 
feet  of  St.  Patrick,  was  the  objective.  A  halt  was  made  at  the  Moat  of 
Dunfane  (Dun-na-Feinne,  the  fort  of  the  Fenians),  a  great  mound  about 
30  feet  high,  and  still  surrounded  in  part  by  the  original  ditch  and  rampart 
and  on  the  east  by  the  remains  of  an  extensive  fortified  earthwork.  Further 
along  the  road  Mr.  Skillen  pointed  out  a  fine  section  of  a  huge  esker  deposit 
of  glacial  sands  and  gravels. 

At  Broughshane  (the  bru  or  border  of  Shane — viz.,  Shane  O'Neill), 
a  halt  was  made  to  inspect  the  two  fine  memorial  windows  of  Celtic  design 
in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church.  A  visit  was  also  paid  to  the  grave 
of  the  Rev  Canon  Grainger,  an  original  member  of  the  Club,  and  its  first 
chairman.  On  the  main  road  from  Ballymena  to  Glenarm,  the  Holy  Well 
of  Tubbernasool  (Tober-na-suil,  the  well  of  the  eyes),  was  pointed  out  in 
a  boggy  field  on  the  south  side  of  the  road.  This  is  the  "  fons  miraculosus  ." 
of  Colgan,  to  which  more  than  a  century  ago  pilgrimages  were  made,  but 
all  traces  of  its  sacred  use  have  disappeared. 

The  old  Church  of  Skerry  (Schirich,  rocky),  founded  by  St.  Patrick 
himself,  next  came  in  sight.  The  ruins  measure  on  the  outside  69  ft.  by 
26  ft.  The  interior  is  filled  to  a  considerable  height  by  graves,  an  arch 
at  the  eastern  end  covering  the  tomb  of  the  O'Neill  family.  In  more 
modern  times  a  farmer  in  this  neighbourhood,  one  James  M'Alschinder, 
or  Alexander,  introduced  a  variety  of  potatoes  which  became  famous 
under  the  name  of  "  Skerry  blues."  It  is  said  he  grew  them  from  two 
potatoes  found  in  a  barrel  of  Dutch  flax-seed. 

From  Mr.  Montgomery's  farm  at  the  north-eastern  base  of  Slemish 
the  ascent  of  the  mountain  was  commenced— the  party  was  treading  the 
footsteps  of  St.  Patrick,  who  here  spent  seven  years  in  captivity  as  a 
head-boy.  The  Saint's  Chair,  a  natural  cleft  in  the  rock,  was  pointed 
out,  and  Mr.  Skillen  indicated  the  location,  at  the  base  of  the  hill,  of 
"  M'Cracken's  Well,"  where  Henry  Joy  M'Cracken  and  his  men,  on  their 
retreat  to  Slemish  after  the  Battle  of  Antrim,  paved  the  mouth  of  the 
well  with  neatly-fitting  stones  which  still  remain  intact. 

On  the  return  journey  the  stone  circle  and  kistvaen  at  Bally marlow 
were  inspected.  The  discovery  of  these  ancient  remains  by  Mr.  Skillen 
about  1908,  created  much  interest  in  archaelogical  circles  on    account  of 


84  The  Irish  Naturalist.  August, 

certain  unique  features  which  they  possess.  At  Ballymena  the  party 
had  tea  in  Whiteside's  Hotel.  Tliis  was  followed  by  a  short  business 
meeting,  the  Rev.  W.  R.  Megaw,  B.A.,  in  the  absence  of  the  President, 
occupying  the  chair,  when  17  ordinary  and  three  junior  members  were 
elected. 

The  only  stop  on  the  journey  home  via  Kells,  Connor,  and  Parkgate, 
was  at  Kells  to  visit  the  remains  of  the  old  Abbey.  Only  the  western 
gable  is  left  standing.  Close  by  is  the  desecrated  tomb  of  the  O'Haras, 
now  apparently  used  as  a  fowl-house  ! 

Throughout  the  excursion  a  keen  look-out  was  kept  for  that  extremely 
local  land-shell  (in  North  Ireland)  Helix  hortensis,  known  to  occur  in  the 
Braid  Valley,  but  no  specimens  were  found. 

June  30. — Excursion  to  Monlough  and  Tullygirvan  Glen. — 
Over  thirty  members  and  friends,  under  the  leadership  of  the  President 
travelled  by  motor  coach  to  the  shores  of  Monlough.  Owing  to  the  recent 
spell  of  dry  weather,  the  drams  had  practically  dried  up,  which  prevented 
any  work  being  done  at  the  freshwater  fauna.  Among  the  marsh-loving 
plants  observed  were  the  Marsh  Cinquefoil  [Comarum  paliistre),  Marsh 
Speedwell  {Veronica  sciitellata),  and  several  interesting  sedges,  including 
Carex  vesicaria  and  C.  ampullacea.  Of  the  birds  seen  may  be  mentioned 
the  Snipe,  Wild  Duck,  Teal,  Reed  Bunting,  and  Stonechat.  A  Snipe's 
nest  was  found  containing  four  eggs  ;  also  that  of  a  Common  Sandpiper, 
which  had  only  empty  egg-shells,  the  young  birds  having  departed.  A 
young  Lapwing,  still  unable  to  fly,  was  seen  moving  along  the  edge  of 
the  lake,  while  a  quiet  "  plop  "  in  the  water  betrayed  the  presence  of  a 
Little    Grebe,     whose    nest    was    afterwards    found. 

On  reaching  the  end  of  the  lake  the  party  were  conducted  to  the  home 
of  Mr.  J.  Mc Williams,  where  an  alfresco  tea  was  provided,  at  the  close  of 
which  thanks  were  accorded  to  the  host  and  hostess  for  their  extreme 
kindness.  The  next  part  of  the  journey  was  through  Tullygirvan  Glen, 
under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Mc  Williams.  By  the  side  of  the  lakelet  at  the 
head  of  the  Glen  the  Least  Marshwort  {Helosciadiiim  iniindatum)  was 
found  in  quantity.  A  walk  of  about  a  mile  from  the  Glen  brought  the 
party  to  Ballygowan  station,  from  which  the  homeward  journey  was 
made. 


ROYAL   ZOOLOGICAL   SOCIETY. 

Some  very  valuable  additions  have  lately  been  made  to  the  Society's 
collectiQn  of  animals,  which  are  now  particularly  well  worth  a  visit. 

Recent  gifts  include  two  beautiful  Leopard  cubs,  presented  by  Pro- 
fessor A.  F.  Dixon  ;  three  Fallow  Deer  fawns,  given  by  the  Board  of 
Works  ;  a  Bonnet  Monkey  from  Mr.  A.  H.  McLean  ;  a  Pelican  from 
Mr.  H.  E.  Rogers,  and  a  pair  of  Purple-backed  Starlings  (Rose-coloured 
Pastor)  given  by  Mr.  G.  E.  Low.  Foxes  have  been  presented  by  Messrs. 
Johnston,  Gilmore,  and  Wilson  Lynch  ;    also  two  examples  of  the  Irish 


1923.  Irish  Societies.  85 

Stoat  {Mustela  hiberniciis)  by  Mr.  Higginbotham,  a  Hedgehog  by  Mr. 
McHickey  ;  a  Sparrow-hawk  by  Mr.  C.  H.  Blackham,  two  Magpies  by 
Mr.  W.  F.  Williams,  and  an  Irish  Slug  {Geomalacus  maculosus)  by  Miss 
Delap,  Valentia. 

By  purchase  the  Gardens  have  also  acquired  some  very  attractive 
animals — notably  a  four-year  old  Dromedary,  a  two-year  old  Chimpanzee, 
a  young  Brown  Bear,  two  young  Malay  Bears,  a  Ring-tailed  Coati-Mundi, 
and  a  pair  of  Marabou  Storks.  Other  purchases  include  a  number  of 
Guinea-pigs,  and  several  interesting  fishes — the  King  Carp,  Green  Tench, 
Golden  Orfe  or  Ide  {Leuciscus  idiis),  Bitterling  [Rhodeiis  amariis),  and 
Catfish  {Amiurus  catus) — also  the  somewhat  celebrated  "  Roman  Snail  " 
{Helix  pomatia). 

A  young  Woodward's  Kangaroo  has  been  born,  and  some  young 
Peafowl  hatched  in  the  Gardens.  Animals  received  on  deposit  or  approval 
include  two  Yellow  Baboons,  ten  Rhesus  Monkeys,  a  Patas  Monkey,  a 
Green  Monkey,  two  Ring-tailed  Coatis,  and  three  Razor-billed  Curassows. 
It  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  public  interest  in  the  Gardens  appears  to  be 
increasing. 


ROYAL    IRISH    ACADEMY    FAUNA    AND    FLORA 

COMMITTEE. 

It  is  of  hopeful  augury  for  the  progress  of  scientific  work  in  this  country 
that  the  Fauna  and  Flora  Committee  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  which 
in  past  years  did  so  much  for  the  advancement  of  zoological  and  botanical 
study,  finds  itself  in  a  position  to  resume  its  activities,  and  that  grants 
are  again  available  for  the  furtherance  of  work  in  the  many  departments 
of  the  natural  history  of  Ireland  that  still  call  for  closer  investigation. 

This  resumption  was  inaugurated  by  a  meeting  of  the  Committee 
held  in  the  Academy  House  on  the  13th  of  June,  Mr.  A.  R.  Nichols  in 
the  Chair.  The  subjects  reported  upon  included  Mr.  Halbert's  work  at 
the  Hemiptera  and  freshwater  mites,  in  connection  especially  with  his 
exploration  of  the  Slaney  and  the  south-eastern  part  of  Ireland  generally  ; 
the  progress  of  Miss  Knowles's  nearly  completed  work  at  the  Lichens,  on 
which  her  report  is  in  course  of  preparation  ;  a  report  by  Mr.  Nichols  on 
the  Polyzoa,  and  the  preparation  by  Mr.  Stelfox  of  a  full  list  of  the  Aculeate 
Hymenoptera  (ants,  bees,  and  wasps)  of  this  country. 

A  resolution  unanimously  passed  requested  Dr.  Carpenter  (now  resident 
in  Manchester)  to  allow  his  name  to  be  retained  in  the  list  of  members. 
The  full  committee,  as  at  present  constituted,  consists  of  Dr.  G.  H.  Car- 
penter, Dr.  Bronte  Gatenby,  C.  B.  Moffat,  A.  R.  Nichols,  Denis  Pack- 
Beresford,  Dr.  G.  H.  Pethybridge,  Dr.  R.  Lloyd  Praeger,  Dr.  R.  F.  Scharff, 
and  A.  W.  Stelfox. 


86  The  Irish  Naturalist.  August, 

NOTES, 

ZOOLOGY. 

Variation    in    Size   of   Eg:gs    of   the    Little   Tern. 

With  reference  to  Mr.  F.  W.  Jeffers'  note  (p.  52  ante),  fifteen  eggs  of 
this  species  which  I  had  opportunity  of  measuring  were  fairly  uniform  in 
size,  ranging  from  i-  24  inch — i-  3  inch  in  length  by  •  9  inch — •  97  inch  in 
breadth — averaging  i-  264  inch  by  •  939  inch.  When  on  the  Clare  Island 
Survey  in  company  with  the  late  R.  J.  Ussher,  we  found  25  nests  of  this 
species  on  an  island — merely  a  sandy  spit  at  high  tide — in  Clew  Bay 
(R.I. A.  Proc,  vol.  xxxi,  Sect.  2,  p.  40).  Most  of  these  nests  contained  from 
I  to  3  eggs,  but  none  of  them  were  taken  nor  measured.  My  recollection, 
however,  is  that  they  all  appeared  of  normal  size.  I  possess  two  eggs, 
taken  in  Co.  Down,  which  measure  i-  5  inch  by  i*  05  inch  and  i-  44  inch  by 
I  inch,  respectively.  These  were  submitted  to  the  late  H.  E.  Dresser, 
who  was  of  opinion  that  they  were  abnormal  eggs  of  the  Arctic  Tern,  the 
eggs  of  which  average  about  i  •  6  inch  by  i  inch. 

Nevin  H.  Foster. 
Hillsborough,  Co.  Down. 


^  Swifts  in  May,  1923. 

The  Swift  was  first  observed  here  this  year  on  3rd  May,  when  about  8 
were  observed,  but  during  the  next  few  days  there  were  further  arrivals 
till  the  number  reached  about  40—50.  In  the    following  week  arctic 

conditions  prevailed  and  continued  for  a  fortnight,  This  caused  an 
almost  disappearance  of  the  Swifts^ — some  days  none  were  seen,  generally 
2  or  3  were  on  the  wing,  and  one  evening  7  were  observed.  With  the  advent 
of  the  fourth  week,  weather  conditions  improved,  and  gradually  the 
number  of  Swifts  increased,  though  I  consider  that  there  are  now,  3rd 
June,  barel}^  as  many  as  were  present  about  the  beginning  of  second  week 
in  JNIay.  I  think  this  cold  snap  with  biting  northerly  winds  was  general  in 
Ireland  during  this  period,  and  wonder  if  a  like  disappearance  of  Swifts 
has  been  noticed  in  other  districts. 

Nevin  H.   Foster. 
Hillsburgh,  Co.  Down. 

I  noticed  a  very  similar  disappearance  of  most  of  the  Swifts  in  Dublin 
from  May  9th  to  i6th,  after  their  arrival  in  force  on  the  3rd,  and  a  like 
diminution  in  numbers  was  observed  by  one  of  my  brothers  in  Liverpool 
about  same  time.  I  suspect  the  birds  do  ze  away  a  good  part  of  the  cold 
weather  in  their  sleeping  holes,  but  some  further  notes  from  other  observers 
would  be  of  interest. 

C.   B.  Moffat. 
Dublin. 


1923.  Notes,  S^ 


The  Malahide  Tern  Colony. 

It  may  interest  some  readers  of  the  Irish  Naturalist  to  know  that  the 
current  number  of  "  British  Birds  "  contains  an  article  of  mine  on  the 
Malahide  Tern  colony  in  Co.  Dublin. 

While  we  know  from  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland  (1851),  vol.  iii., 
that  Thompson  recorded  the  breeding  of  the  Little  Tern  [Sterna  a.  albifrons) 
in  1840,  the  Common  Tern  (5.  Mr  undo)  in  1837,  and  possibly  the  Arctic 
Tern  (5.  paradisaa),  on  the  Malahide  shore,  attention  is  drawn  to  the 
fact  that  the  sandbank  forming  the  present  side,  of  the  colony  did  not 
exist  at  that  time.  This  is  clearly  shewn  by  a  diagram  of  the  main  bank 
prepared  from  the  6-inch  Ordnance  maps  of  1837  and  1909.  The  earliest 
breeding  record  of  any  of  the  larger  species  of  Terns  on  the  present  site 
appears  to  be  that  of  a  pair  of  Common  Terns  in  1890  (Ussher  &  Warren's 
Birds  of  Ireland,  p.  320).  Some  further  records  from  1900  onward  are 
also  given. 

Amongst  other  items  of  interest  contained  in  the  article  is  the  first 
announcement  in  print  that  Malahide  was  the  scene  of  the  writer's  dis- 
covery of  the  breeding  of  the  Roseate  Tern  {S.s.  dougalli)  in  1913,  recorded 
British  Birds,  vol.  vii.,  and  Irish  Naturalist,  191 4.  Some  particulars  are 
also  given  of  an  attempt  made  to  breed  there  by  three  pairs  of  Sandwich 
Terns  [S.s.  sandvicensis)  in  1922. 

In  addition,  extracts  from  notes  of  visits  made  to  the  colony  in  the 
years  1915,  1919,  1920,  1921  and  192  2  are  appended,  and  in  conclusion 
some  comments  are  made  on  the  behaviour  of  the  birds  prior  to  the  26th 
June,  1922,  when,  as  many  readers  will  be  aware,  the  terns  abandoned  the 
breeding  ground,  leaving  their  eggs  to  the  mercy  of  the  marauding  Gulls, 
Rooks,  etc.,  as  reported  by  Lt.-Col.  H.  A.  F.  Magrath  in  the  Irish  Times 
about  that  time,  and  in  British  Birds  (vol.  xvi.,  pp.  168-170). 

Dublin.  Geo.  R.  Humphreys. 


Helicella  itala  L. :  an  addition  to  the  Fauna  of  Lambay. 

When  visiting  this  island  on  27th  June,  I  found  a  semi-fossil  example 
of  this  shell  in  a  sandy  deposit  of  no  great  age  on  the  cliffs  between  Carnoon 
and  Talbot's  Bays,  and  I  have  but  little  doubt  that  it  still  lives  in  the 
same  neighbourhood  though  time  prevented  my  searching  for  it  on  that 
occasion.  This  species  was  not  taken  on  Tambay  during  the  survey  of 
the  island — 1904-6.  ^ 

A.  W.   Stelfox. 

Rathgar. 


1  Sec  Irish  Naturalist,  vol.  xvi.,  p.  41,  1907. 


88  The  Irish  Naturalist.  August,  192^. 


BOTANY. 

Rubia  peregrina  L.  and  Tragopogon  porrifolius  L.  on 

Lambay. 

Behind  the  cottages  at  the  harbour  on  27th  June  I  noted  a  colony  of 
Salsify  {Tragopogon  porrifolius)  which  is  possibly  of  garden  origin,  but 
which  will  probabl}^  succeed  in  establishing  itself  on  Lambay, 

Although  frequent  on  the  railways  about  Belfast,  this  alien  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  noted  in  Co.  Dublin. 

The  Wild  Madder  {Rubia  peregrina)  being,  unlike  the  Salsify,  a  native 
plant,  there  is  more  satisfaction  in  recording  it  also  from  the  island,  where 
I  found  it  growing  in  some  quantity  on  the  clay  cliffs  between  Carnoon  Bay 
and  Talbot's  Bay.  In  Cybele  II.  this  plant  is  stated  to  be  very  rare  in 
eastern  Ireland,  and  it  has  not,  I  believe  hitherto  been  recorded  from  any 
station  N.  of  Howth.  That  it  should  have  escaped  detection  during  the 
v'arious  surveys  that  have  been  made  of  the  flora  of  Lambay  is  just  one 
more  example  of  those  curious  puzzles  that  naturalists  are  constantly 
encountering. 

A.  W,  Stelfox. 
Rathgar. 


The  Golden  Samphire  near  Rush,  Co.  Dublin. 

On  i6th  June  last,  while  examining  the  coast  north  of  Rush  with  Miss 
M.  C.  Knowles,  we  found  a  single  fine"  clump  of  this  plant.  Inula  crith- 
moides,  on  the  cliffs  in  the  first  bay  north  of  Rush  harbour. 

It  does  not  appear  hitherto  to  have  been  observed  in  or  recorded  from 
Colgan's  division  2  of  Co.  Dublin.  Moreover,  this  station  is  a  little  to  the 
north  of  Lambay,  long  known  as  its  most  northern  habitat  in  Ireland. 
As  the  sea  has  made  considerable  inroads  in  recent  years  close  to  where 
the  plant  grows  at  Rush,  it  may  be  that  this  is  the  last  surviving  member 
of  a  colony.  On  the  other  hand  it  may  be  derived  from  a  sea-borne  seed 
from  Lambay  or  Howth. 

A.  W.  Stelfox. 
Rathgar. 


September,  1923.  The  Irish  Naturalist.  80 


ALGAL  DISCOLOURATION  OF  LOUGH  NEAGH 
AND  THE  RIVER   BANN. 

BY  DENIS  R.  PACK-BERESFORD,  M.R.I. A. 

Great  interest  has  been  taken  during  this  spring  and 
summer  by  residents  in  the  neighbourliood  of  Lough  Neagh 
and  the  River  Bann,  and  there  has  been  some  correspondence 
in  the  Belfast  papers,  on  the  discolouration  of  the  lough 
and  river.  The  curious  and  quite  unusual  colour  of  the 
water  was  first  noticed  about  January  or  February  last,  so 
far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  and  began  after  the 
river  was  in  flood.  Instead  of  clearing  in  the  normal  way 
it  gradually  assumed  a  greenish  hue,  and  eventually  a 
greenish  grey  colour  which  lasted  for  months,  and  it  was 
still  of  the  same  peculiar  colour  when  I  first  saw  it  towards 
the  end  of  May.  One  old  man  I  met  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  told  me  he  believed  that  a  "  volcano  "  had  burst  in 
Lough  Neagh  as  the  river  had  never  been  seen  this  colour 
before  in  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant. 

I  at  once  got  a  glass  of  water  out  of  the  river  to  study,  and 
found  it  was  perfectly  clear  with  no  signs  of  mud  in  it  at  all, 
but  on  examining  it  with  a  pocket  lens  I  found  it  to  be  full 
of  very  minute  floating  hairs  which  were  evidently  an  alga 
of  some  sort.  I  put  the  glass  of  water  to  stand  in  the  sun, 
and  in  the  course  of  a  few  da^^s  several  cotton  wool-like 
tufts  began  to  appear  in  it,  this  evidently  being  the  plant 
growing. 

About  the  middle  of  June  I  took  some  of  this  water  over 
to  London  and  to  the  Natural  History  Museum,  where 
Miss  Lorrain  Smith  and  Mr.  Gepp  very  kindly  examined  it 
for  me  and  pronounced  it  to  be  an  alga  known  as  Oscilla- 
toria  tenuis,  Agardh. 

They  referred  me  to  Cooke's  British  Fresh- water  Algae 
where"  this  plant  is  described  as  Oscillator ia  aeriigescens 
Hass,  but  told  me  that  this  is  now  recognised  to  be  a 
synonym  for  0.  tenuis. 


go  The  Irish  Naturalist.  September, 

Cooke  after  describing  the  plant,  refers  to  Dr.  Drummond's 
account  of  his  discovery  of  it  in  Ireland,  which  is  so  in- 
teresting, and  so  exactly  corresponds  with  my  own  obser- 
vations that  I  think  it  is  worth  quoting  in  full. 

"  This  is  the  species  which  Dr.  Drummond  described  as 
the  "  colouring  substance  of  Glasslough  Lake,  Ireland." 

"  He  commences  by  stating  that  "  Glas-lough  "  signifies 
"  green  lake  "  an  appellation  given  to  it  from  time  im- 
memorial on  account  of  the  hue  of  its  waters,  which  exhibit 
a  green  tinge,  equal  to,  or  exceeding  in  intensity  that  of 
the  sea,  though  it  is  not  at  all  times  equally  striking. 

"  From  the  accounts  I  received,  the  green  colour  is  evident 
in  the  lough  throughout  the  year,  and  if  I  may  judge  from 
my  own  observations  every  drop  of  it  is  impregnated  with 
the  oscillatory  filaments."  "  When  a  little  of  the  water  is 
lifted  in  the  hand  it  seems  to  be  perfectly  transparent,  and 
it  appears  equalty  clear  at  the  edges  of  the  lake,  but  at  a 
depth  of  two  feet  the  bottom  is  indistinguishable  and  the 
water  presents  a  feculent  opacity,  accompanied  by  a  dull 
dirty  greenish  hue.  On  lifting  some  of  this  in  a  glass  it 
seems  at  first  sight  quite  transparent  but  on  holding  it  up  to 
the  light  inumerable  minute  flocculi  are  seen  floating 
through  every  part  of  it  and  producing  a  mottled  cloudiness 
throughout  the  whole." 

"  At  first  I  could  only  find  the  plant  diffused  through  the 
water,  but  at  length  I  discovered  a  wet  ditch  extending 
from  the  lake  into  an  adjoining  field,  and  there  it  appeared 
swimming  on  the  surface  in  large  masses,  several  inches  in 
thickness  and  about  a  foot  and  a  half  in  length.  These 
seemed  evidently  to  be  produced  by  an  agglomeration  of  the 
filaments  floated  in  from  the  lake,  matted  together  at  the 
surface  and  increased  in  growth. 

"  The  surface  of  these  masses,  where  dried  by  the  contact 
of  the  air,  was  of  a  bright  bluish  verdigris  hue,  while  the 
parts' immersed  in  the  water  were  of  a  dull  opaque  green. 

"  On  examining  specimens  in  the  microscope  I  some- 
times observed  their  motions  to  be  very  vivid,  and  in  other 
instances  little  or  no  motion  could  be  perceived. 

"  They  are  extremely  minute,  their  traverse  striae  very 


1923.       Pack-Beresford — Algal  Discolouration  of  Lough         91 

Neagh  and  the  River  Bann. 

numerous  and  at  distances  of  about  half  the  diameter  from 
each  other.  The  filaments  in  the  conglomerated  masses 
appeared  to  me  to  be  many  inches  long  and  running  parallel 
together  ;  the  broken  fragments  dispersed  through  the  lake 
cross  each  other  in  all  directions."  Drummond  :  Ann.  & 
Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist.  (1838),  I  p.  i. 

I  need  only  add  that  on  my  return  to  the  River  Bann  early 
in  July  the  river  was  nearly  its  normal  colour,  but  on  again 
examining  some  of  the  water  under  a  lens  it  was  found  still 
to  contain  considerable  numbers  of  the  floating  filaments 
but  in  greatly  reduced  numbers. 

Fenagh  House,  Bagenalstown. 


THE  PEARL-BORDERED  FRITILLARY  IN  IRELAND. 

BY    R.     A.    PHILLIPS,     M.R.I. A. 

On  a  bright  day  in  June  last  Mr.  H.  Fogerty  and  I,  while 
passing  along  a  rocky  roadway  in  the  limestone  cragland 
at  Clooncoose  near  Kilfenora,  Co.  Clare,  noticed  large 
numbers  of  a  pretty  butterfly  flitting  about  in  the  sunshine. 
We  captured  one  but  were  at  the  time  unable  to  identify  it. 
The  specimen  was  subsequently  sent  to  Mr.  A.  W.  Stelfox, 
of  the  National  Museum,  Dublin,  who  reported  that  it  was 
the  Pearl-bordered  Fritillary  [Argymiis  Euphrosyne,  L.) 
a  species  not  previously  known  to  inhabit  Ireland. 

In  Great  Britain  this  is  one  of  the  commonest  of  the 
Fritillaries,  being  widely  distributed  throughout  England, 
most  abundently  in  the  south,  and  ranging  to  the  north  of 
Scotland  ;  its  discovery  so  far  west  in  Ireland  is,  therefore, 
interesting  and  its  apparent  absence  from,  or  rarity  in, 
other  parts  of  the  country  remarkable. 

The  late  Edwin  Birchall  in  his  list  of  the  Lepidoptera  of 
Ireland  (pubUshedin  1866)  expressed  a  confident  expectation 
that  this  species  would  eventually  be  found  in  the  country, 
and  its  discovery  nearly  sixt}'  years  afterwards    in  Clare 


Q2  The  Irish  Naturalist.  September, 

quite  justifies  his  prediction.  The  fact  of  it  having  escaped 
detection  for  so  long  a  time  leads  one  to  think  that  its 
Irish  distribution  must  be  strangely  local  for  a  butterfl}^ 
so    common   in    England. 

Clooncoose  is  situated  in  the  barony  of  Burren,  a  district 
well  known  to  naturalists  for  its  immense  tracts  of  limestone 
mountain,  crag  and  "  pavement,"  interspersed  with  patches 
of  dense  scrub  and  rich  pasture,  and  its  remarkable  fauna 
and  flora. 

Other  butterflies  seen  in  the  locality  at  the  time  were, 
the  Orange-tip  (Euchloe  cardamincs),  the  Speckled  Wood 
(Pararge  egeria),  the  Meadow  Brown  (Epinephile  janira), 
the  Small  Heath  {Ccejionympha  pamphilus),  the  Little 
Blue  [Zizera  minima),  and  the  Common  Blue  [Lyccena 
icants)  ;  but  these  were  all  outnumbered  b}^  the  Pearl- 
bordered    Fritillary. 

The  captured  specimen  of  Argynnis  Euphrosyne  is  now 
preserved  in  the  National  Museum. 

Cork. 


IRISH    SOCIETIES. 

DUBLIN  NATURALISTS'  FIELD  CLUB. 

November  9,  1922. — J.  de  W.  Hindi  (Vice-President)  in  the  Chair. 
The  evening  was  devoted  to  exhibits,  among  which  were  an  interesting 
series  illustrative  of  the  character  of  ice  action  during  the  Glacial  Age, 
shown  by  the  Vice-President ;  also  a  number  of  Irish  birds  shown  by  W. 
R.  Brambell ;  leaves  of  various  Poplars  showing  variation  m  autumnal 
colouring  b}^  C.  B.  Moffat,  and  some  Tree-Frogs  and  Japanese  Toads 
by  Miss  E.  Wilson.    A  short  discussion  took  place  on  each  set  of  exhibits. 

December  14. — The  Vice-President  in  the  Chair.  A  paper  was  read 
by  Athole  Harrison,  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  commoner  Irish  Gulls, 
and  was  followed  by  an  informal  discussion  in  which  many  members 
took  part.  Nominations  for  Officers  and  Committee  for  the  ensuing 
session  were  read  out  in  accordance  with  Rule  VIII. 

JanIjary  II,  1923.- — -Annual  General  Meeting.' — The  Vice-President 
in  the  Chair.  The  annual  report  and  statement  of  accounts  for  1922 
were  submitted  and  adopted.  The  Officers  for  the  preceding  session  were 
declared  to  have  been  re-elected,  and  the  three  vacancies  in  the  Committee 
were  filled  by  the  election  of  Miss  Cooper,  A.  W.  Stelfox  ajid  M.  J.  Gorman. 
Dr.  Carpenter,  the  news    of    whose  retirement  from  Dublin  had  been 


1923.  Irish  Societies,  93 

received  with  deep  regret,  was  unanimously  elected  an  honorary  member 
of  the  Club.  C.  B.  Moffat  read  a  paper  on  the  study  of  wild  plants  (sinc,e 
printed  in  this  Journal,  pp.  21-7). 

February  8.— C>  B.  Moffat  in  the  Chair.  The  Vice-President  (J,  de  W. 
Hindi)  opened  a  discussion  on  Professor  Wegener's  theory  of  the  causes  of 
the  present  distribution  of  land  and  water,  illustrating  with  the  help  of  a 
series  of  diagrams  and  maps  the  nature  of  the  movements  that  are  supposed 
to  have  taken  place.  The  discussion  was  continued  by  A.  W.,  Stelfox, 
R.  LI.  Praeger,  and  others,  and  the  general  sense  of  the  meeting  seemed 
favourable  to  the  acceptance  of  Professor  Wegener's  view. 

March  8. — The  President  in  the  Chair.  A  paper  of  exceptional  interest, 
illustrated  with  many  excellent  lantern-slides,  was  read  by  Miss  Gilmorc, 
B.Sc,  on  the  Coal-Bore  at  Washing  Bay,  Lough  Neagh — a  paper  which 
showed  that  the  costly  boring  operations,  though  unsuccessful  as  regards 
their  direct  objective,  had  yielded  results  of  an  extraordinary  value  from 
the  palaeobotanical  point  of  view,  while  revealing  a  depth  of  clay  (1,196 
feet)  before  the  basalt  was  reached  that  entirely  confounded  previous 
speculations.  Messrs.  Hinch,  Praeger,  Stelfox  and  others  discussed  the 
subject  and  joined  in  thanking  Miss  Gilmore  for  her  paper. 

April  2. — The  President  in  the  Chair.  The  winter  session  closed  with 
an  address  delivered  by  Mr.  Gorman  on  "  Some  Fungus  Galls."  The 
lecturer,  who  showed  a  series  of  interesting  slides,  pointed  out  the  various 
ways  in  which  fungi  obtain  their  food,  and  the  diversity  of  the  effects 
produced  on  the  living  organisms  that  many  of  them  select  as  their  hosts. 
Among  the  gall-formations  shown,  the  conspicuous  "  witch  knots  "  so 
often  seen  on  the  Birch,  Silver-Fir,  Lime  and  other  trees  excited  a  special 
interest.  Discussion  was  limited  to  the  asking  of  a  number  of  questions, 
to  which  the  lecturer  replied. 

May  5. — Excursion  to  Kilbride  Valley  and  Ballinascorney  Gap.- — 
Taking  the  steam  tram  to  Brittas  a  party  of  about  20  members  and  visitors 
walked  through  the  Kilbride  Valley,  and  crossing  Ballinascorney  Gap 
descended  into  Glenasmole  The  chief  concern  of  the  excursion  was  an 
examination  of  the  mounds  and  sheets  of  gravelly  drift  which  are  strongly 
developed  in  this  area  and  the  main  features  of  which  were  pointed  out 
by  the  Conductor,  J.  de  W.  Hinch,  who  also  explained  the  geological 
conditions  which  led  to  their  origin.  In  late  Glacial  times  a  series  of  lakes 
of  considerable  extent  had  been  formed  along  the  eastern,  northern,  and 
western  flanks  of  the  Dublin  and  Wicklow  hills,  caused  by  the 
impounding  of  the  drainage  between  the  mountain  slopes  and  the  edges 
of  the  retreating  ice-sheet.  Into  these  lakes  debris  derived  from  the 
boulder  clay  on  the  mountain  side  and  from  the  moraine  material 
contained  in  the  waning  ice-sheet  was  deposited  and  spread  out  in  sheets 
along  the  edges  of  the  lakes.  The  composition  of  the  gravels  shows 
clearly  the  mingling  of  materials  derived  from  very  different  sources,  and 
pebbles  of  Chalk,  Ailsa  Craig  rock,  chalk  flints,  and  shell  fragments  from 
the  north  are  mixed  with  Leinster  granite  and  Carboniferous  limestone 
from  the  immediate  neighbourhood.  The  system  of  overflow  channels, 
represented  at  the  present  time  by  the  "  dry  gaps  "  of  the  Dublin  and 


94  The  Irish  Naturalist.  September, 

Wicklow  Hills,  was  indicated  and  their  mode  of  origin  explained.  As  the 
impounded  waters  rose  in  the  temporary  lakes,  a  point  was  reached  when 
the  surface  of  the  lake  attained  the  same  level  as  the  col  between  two  hills, 
and  the  waters  of  the  lake,  flowing  outwards  across  the  col  commenced  to 
cut  an  overflow  channel  These  overflow  channels  have  been  traced  along 
the  eastern,  northern,  and  western  slopes  of  the  Dublin  and  Wicklow  hills 
from  The  Deputies'  Pass  near  Rathdrum  on  the  east  to  Hollywood  Glen 
ne^r  Ballymore  Eustace  on  the  western  edge  of  the  Wicklow  hills. 

A  NEW  IRISH  FIELD  CLUB. 

It  is  a  pleasing  duty  to  welcome  the  formation  of  a  new  Naturalists' 
Field  Club  in  Northern  Ireland,  taking  its  name  from  that  most  interesting 
area  of  north  Antrim  anciently  (and  still)  known  as  The  Route. 
Tlie  starting  of  this  Club  as  the  result  of  geological  lectures  given  last 
winter  in  Coleraine,  Bushmills,  and  Ballycastle,  by  Professor  J.  K.  Charles- 
worth,  D.  Sc,  of  the  Queen's  University,  Belfast,  recalls  the  fact  that 
the  Belfast  Naturalists'  Field  Club  (to  which  the  Route  Club  is  affiliated) 
had  a  somewhat  similar  origin,  as  a  result  of  natural  history  lectures, 
given  by  the  late  Professor  Ralph  Tate  in  the  early  sixties  of  last  century. 
The  Club  has  for  its  first  President  the  Hon.  Helen  Macnaghten  of 
Runkerry  ;  its  Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer  is  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Gumley, 
B.A.,  Rector  of  Ballintoy. 


NOTES. 

ZOOLOGY. 

Comparison  of  Bggs  and  Down  of  Pochard  and  Tufted 

Duck. 

I  had  recently  the  opportunity  of  comparing  clutches  of  eggs  with  down 
of  Pochard  from  England  and  Tufted  Duck  taken  in  May  of  this  year  in 
Co.  Tyrone.  The  8  Pochard's  eggs  were  of  a  clear  greenish  colour  giving 
an  average  measurement  of  2  •  3175  x  i  •  66  inches.  The  eggs  of  the  Tufted 
Duck  were  darker  in  colour — olive  green — and  more  glossy  in  texture  with 
a  greasy  look,  and  measured  slightly  less,  viz.  2-315  x  i"6i3  inches.  The 
general  appearance  of  the  downs  was  very  similar,  but  seen  in  certain 
lights  that  of  the  Pochard  was  browner  than  the  sooty  do'^\ai  of  the  Tufted 
Duck.  The  feel  of  the  downs,  however,  was  decidedly  different,  that  of 
the  Tufted  Duck  being  harsh  whilst  the  Pochard's  down  was  remarkably 
soft.  The  feathers  in  the  down  proved  strikingly  difterent,  these  from  the 
Tufted  Duck  being  of  two  types — (a)  altogether  silvery  white  and  (6)  brown 
with  silvery  white  tips.  The  few  feathers  among  the  Pochard's  down 
were  much  larger  of  sooty  brown  colour,  one  or  two  of  them  having  lighter 
coloured  tips. 

Neven  H.  Foster. 

Hillsborough,  Co.  Down. 


1923.  Notes.  Qi; 

The  American  Grey  Squirrel  in  Ireland. 

In  the  course  of  an  enquiry  into  the  present  distribution  of  this  alien 
species  {Neosciurus  carolinensis)  in  the  British  Isles,  I  have  learned  that 
there  is  one  established  colony,  at  any  rate,  in  Ireland.  This  is  at  Castle 
Forbes,  County  Longford,  where  the  Earl  of  Granard,  about  twelv^e  years 
ago,  received  some  dozen  Grey  Squirrels  from  the  stock  at  Woburn,  Bed- 
fordshire, and  since  then  they  have  increased  so  greatly  as  to  become  a 
pest.  About  four  years  ago  over  three  liundred  were  killed  in  the  course  of 
the  year,  but  the  difficulty  of  having  fire-arms  in  Ireland  at  present  renews 
the  squirrel's  chances.  It  has  spread  from  Castle  Forbes  to  places  over  ten 
miles  away,  passing  on  its  journey  some  miles  of  bog,  without  a  single  tree. 
Mr.  Oldfield  Thomas,  F.R.S.,  has  kindly  placed  the  above  information, 
communicated  to  him  recently  by  the  Earl  of  Granard,  at  my  disposal. 

Hugh  Boyd  Watp. 
London. 


Arrival  of  Spring  Migrants  in    1923. 

The  time  of  arrival  of  spring  migrants  this  year  was  on  the  whole  about 
the  average  dates  for  this  district  as  published  in  Irish  Naturalist,  vol. 
xxvi,  p.  123.  The  WQiitetroat  was  observed  in  numbers  on  6th  May 
■ — only  a  couple  of  days  late.  The  Chiffchaff  is  one  of  three  species  which 
arrived  in  advance  of  average  time,  being  noted  on  28th  March,  Rev.  R.  N. 
Morrison's  note  (p.  51,  ante),  constitutes  it  is  believed  the  earliest  record 
for  this  bird  in  Northern  Ireland,  his  observation  being  made  about  1 1 
miles  from  here.  The  Willow-Wren  was  not  seen  till  26th  April,  almost 
a  fortnight  later  than  average.  Of  the  Sedge- Warbler  and  Grasshopper 
Warbler  no  information  is  available  for  this  year.  The  Spotted  Flycatcher 
was  somewhat  late  not  being  observed  till  19th  May.  The  Swallow  on 
1 6th  April,  was  only  a  few  days  late,  but  the  House-Martin  seen  on  same 
date  (and  almost  daily  thereafter)  proved  nearly  three  weeks  earlier  than 
normal.  Sand-Martins  were  present  at  their  nesting  haunts  in  considerable 
numbers  in  the  last  week  of  April,  but  the  date  of  their  arrival  was  not 
ascertained.  The  Swift  first  appeared  on  the  3rd  May  ;  the  Cuckoo  on 
23rd  April  ;  the  Landrail  on  29th  April  ;  and  the  Common  Sandpiper  on 
4th  May, — all  about  the  expected  dates.  All  the  spring  migrants  appear 
to  be  here  in  about  their  wonted  numbers  except  the  Cuckoo,  which  has 
proved  exceptionally  scarce  this  year,  and  indeed  was  seldom  seen  or 
heard  after  the  cold  snap  during  the  second  and  third  weeks  in  May. 
Two  or  three  Common  Terns  (probably  non-breeding  birds)  generally 
frequent  the  lakes  here  from  May  till  August,  but  this  year  none  were 
observed. 

Nevin     H.     Foster, 
Hillsborough,     Co.     Down. 


96  The  Irish  NaUiralisf.  September,  1923. 

The  Fox  in  Co.  Down. 

When  visiting  my  friend  Rev.  R.  N.  Morrison,  he  informed  me  that  a 
Fox  had  been  seen  on  the  road  at  the  entrance  gate  to  his  Rectory 
(Magherahamlet,  near  Ballynahinch).  This  is  not  surprising  as  these 
animals  are  not  uncommon  in  the  Deer  Park  situated  only  about  a 
couple  of  miles  away  from  his  house.  Some  Foxes  are  still  to  be  found 
in  the  Mourne  Mountains. 

Hillsborough,  Co  Down.  ^^vin    H.    Foster. 

BOTANY. 
Down  and  Antrim  Plants. 

A  few  notes  cf  hitherto  unrecDrded  stations  for  some  of  our  rarer 
Down  and  Antrim  plants  may  be  of  interest. 

Geranium  columhinum,  on  railway  between  Dundrum  and  Newcastle. 

Hypericum  elodes,  at  Ballyalloley. 

Vicia  lathytoides,  top  of  the  keep  at  Dundrum  Castle. 

Eleocharis  multicaulis,  at  the  Giant's  Causewaj',  and  at  Ballyalloley. 

Chenopodium  Bonus-Henricus,  .at  Cregeagh. 

Cat  ex  teretiiiscula  and  Rhynchospora  alba,  at  Sharvogue's  Bog  :  also 
Salix  purpurea  growing  with  S.  cinerea,  surely  wild  in  such  a  situation. 

Ophrys  apt j era  at  Magheramorne.  This  is  I  believe  the  first  record  of 
the  Bee  Orchid  in  our  three  N.  E.  Counties. 

Campbell    College,    Belfast.  Corrie    D.    Chase. 

Notes  from  Cos.  Down  and   Armagfh. 

While  searching  the  meadows  near  Ellis's  Cut,  for  Spiranthes,  where 
the  Lagan  Canal  enters  Lough  Neagh,  on  ist  August,  1922,  I  observed  the 
following  plants,  two  of  which  are  additions  to  the  flora  of  Down  as  listed 
in  the  Flora  of  N,  E.  Ireland,  and  its  supplements.  West  of  the  canal,  in 
Co.  Armagh,  Lathyrus  palustris,  Typha  arigustifolia  and  Calamagrostis 
stricta,    var.    Hookeri   a.re   still    abundant    in    Praeger's    station. 

North  of  the  canal  mouth  in  Co.  Down,  on  the  shore  of  the  lough  there 
is  quite  a  large  area  of  the  usual  scrub,  so  characteristic  of  the  steeper 
parts  of  the  eastern  shores  of  Lough  Neagh.  In  this  scrub  I  found  fine 
trees  of  Rhamnus  catharticu$  and  not  far  away  I  got  Chcerophyllum  temulum 
in  a  hedge  close  to  Annaghdroghal  House.  I  have  no  doubt  the  record 
given  in  Cybele  I  for  Rhamnus  catharticits — a  little  north  of  the  Lagan 
canal— refers  to  the  present  station  for  the  plant,  though  transferred  to 
Co.  Antrim  in  the  Flora  of  the  North-east.  A  few  days  later  I  found 
Typha  angustifolia  in  a  new  station,  in  the  old  gravel  pit  by  the  railway 
near  Herdstown,  west  of  Donaghadee,  where  Typha  latifolia  also  grows, 
as  well  as  fine  specimens  of  Orchis  prcstermissa  Druce,  I  also  observed 
Trifolium  medium  on  the  basalt  and  tip  about  the  quarries  in  Scrabo — a 
rare  plant  in  Co.   Down. 

Rathgar.  A.  W.  Stelfox. 


October,  1923.  The  Irish  Naturalist.  07 

IRELAND  AND  SWITZERLAND  :  A  BOTANICAL 

CONTRAST. 

By  R.  Lloyd  Praeger,  D.Sc. 

Recently  I  had  an  opportunity  of  studying  the  flora 
of  Switzerland  under  peculiarly  favourable  circumstances. 
In  the  first  place,  I  was  one  of  a  party  of  some  33  botanists, 
representing  seventeen  different  nationalities,  so  that  we 
had  the  advantage,  as  we  went  along,  of  comments  from 
many  view-points  ;  and  secondly,  we  were  for  over  three 
weeks  conducted  from  end  to  end  of  the  country  by  the 
leading  local  botanists  :  we  were  taken  straight  from  best 
place  to  best  place,  and  saw  as  much  on  one  visit  as  most 
people  see  on  half  a  dozen.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  attempt 
to  draw  some  comparisons  between  the  vegetation  of 
Switzerland  and  that  of  our  own  island. 

As  regards  the  general  flora  of  the  two  areas,  it  may  be 
said  that  Switzerland  possesses  the  great  bulk  of  the  flora 
of  which  Ireland  possesses  only  a  part.  Owing  to  its 
central  position  in  Europe  and  the  great  variety  of  con- 
ditions, both  edaphic  and  climatic,  which  prevail  there, 
Switzerland  has  received  and  retained  much  of  the  successive 
plant-waves  which  have  entered  Europe  from  the  greater 
land  masses  which  lie  to  the  eastward.  These  waves  beat 
strongly  across  Central  Europe,  but  diminished  westward, 
as  species  after  species  dropped  out  owing  to  competition 
or  to  the  intervention  of  barriers  which  arrested  their  pro- 
gress :  so  that  England  has  received  a  diminished  immi- 
gration, and  Ireland  a  more  diminished  one.  This  general 
east-to-west  migration  has  been  going  on  for  a  very  long 
time.  The  researches  of  Clement  Reid  and  ]\lrs.  Reid  go 
to  show  that  during  Pliocene  times  a  flora  largely  exotic 
was  by  degrees  replaced  in  Europe  by  one  closely  allied  to 
that  now  existing,  and  derived  no  doubt  mainly  from  the 
Asiatic  highlands.  Then  came  the  Ice  Age,  causing  dire 
confusion  in  all  our  records,  geological,  botanical  and 
zoological.     In    Central    Europe    the    existing    temperate 

A 


The  Irish  Naturalist  October, 

vegetation  was  driven  southward  towards  the  Mediter- 
ranean and  its  place  taken  by  plants  of  the  north.  In 
Ireland  the  case  is  not  so  simple,  for  the  plants  had  not 
an  open  line  of  retreat  southward,  since  there  lay  the 
Atlantic.  The  argument  for  the  survival  in  Ireland  of 
at  least  part  of  the  flora,  based  upon  our  interesting  Lusi- 
tanian,  Mediterranean  and  North  American  plants,  is 
well  known,  and  need  not  detain  us  here.  There  is  a 
tendency  now  among  geologists  to  allow  us  what  they 
formerly  denied  us — ^a  high  land-level  persist  ng  after  the 
ice  had  passed  away.  If  this  were  of  sufficient  amount 
and  duration,  it  might  have  allowed  of  post-glacial  immi- 
gration of  our  southern  plants  (and  the  associated  animals)  ; 
but  it  cannot  be  extended  to  allow  of  the  overland  migration 
of  the  American  element,  for  which  a  pre-glacial  date  still 
appears  essential.  My  friend  Dr.  Stapf,  who  follows  Engler 
in  believing  in  the  post-glacial  arrival  of  our  southern 
forms, ^  agrees  (in  a  recent  conversation)  that  the  American 
element  would  appear  to   be  of  pre-glacial  arrival. 

On  the  retreat  of  the  ice,  Switzerland  became  readily 
re-colonized  by  much  of  its  former  vegetation,  and  no  doubt 
its  mountain  flora  was  permanently  reinforced  by  many 
arctic  species  which  had  been  forced  southward.  Ireland 
similarly  became  re-colonized,  in  this  case  from  the  east- 
ward, so  that  the  net  result  of  the  glacial  upset  is  in  both 
countries  a  flora  differing  probably  not  much  in  type, 
though  somewhat  in  composition,  from  that  prevailing 
just  before  the  oncoming  of  the  Pleistocene  cold.  Ireland 
s  still  occupied  by  a  flora  which  is  in  the  main  a  reduced 
Swiss  one.  But  the  reduction  is  very  great.  Where 
Ireland  has  12  Trefoils,  Great  Britain  has  18,  Switzerland 
24.  Ireland  has  3  species  of  Gentian,  Great  Britain  5, 
Switzerland  20.  Of  Phyteuma  Ireland  has  none,  England 
2,  Switzerland  10.  And  so  on,  till  the  odds  in  favour  of 
Switzerland  run  into  four  figures,  though  its  area  is  only 
half  that  of  Ireland.  On  the  other  side  of  the  account, 
we  can  point  only  to  our  Lusitanian -American  group,  and 


1  Otto  Staff  ;    The  Southern  Element  in  the  British  Flora.       Englers 
Bot.  Jahrbucher  50  (191 4)  509. 


1923  Praeger  -SivitzerJand  and  Ireland.  99 

also  to  a  number  of  "  Atlantic  Type  "  plants  of  wide  range 
in  western  Europe,  but  which  do  not  grow  so  far  eastward 
as  Switzerland.  These  include  some  of  our  most  abundant 
and  showy  spec'es,  such  as  the  Purple  Heather  {Erica 
cinerea)  and  Common  Gorse  {Ulex  europceus).  I  sometimes 
think  that  we  do  not  quite  appreciate  the  unique  beauty 
of  these  two  plants  in  our  landscape.  The  famous  alpine 
meadows  present  a  far  greater  variety  of  colour  and  form 
in  their  flowers,  but  for  sheer  overwhelming  mass  of  colour 
our  Gorse  and  Heather  are  unsurpassed  in  Europe,  and 
so  far  as  I  know,  in  the  world.  What  is  more  surprising 
is  that  even  in  its  own  special  domain  of  alpine  plants  we 
can  occasionally  beat  Switzerland,  for  nowhere  there,  so 
far  as  my  knowledge  goes,  will  we  find  such  sheets  of  Moun- 
tain Avens  (Dryas  octopetala),  Spring  Gentian  (G.  verna) 
and  Bearberry  {Ardostaphylos  Uva-ursi)  as  in  the  Burren 
of  Glare. 

Apart  from  its  position,  which  is  favourable  to  large 
immigration,  the  variety  of  conditions  offered  by  Switzer- 
land as  compared  with  Ireland  easily  accounts  for  a  flora 
much  larger  than  the  Irish  one,  concentrated  on  an  area 
only  half  as  large.  The  deep  Swiss  valleys,  such  as  those 
of  the  Rhone  and  Rhine,  while  cold  in  winter — often  colder 
than  the  slopes  overlooking  them,  I  am  inforrned — are 
generally  hot  and  dry,  and  their  flora  is  thermophytic  and 
xero phytic.  As  we  saw  these  valleys,  the  shade  temperature 
ran  up  each  day  to  80 ^F  or  90" F,  and  the  hot  rocks  held 
a  rich  flora  of  succulent  and  other  sun-loving  plants  which 
were  shrivelling  in  the  glare.  Rising  from  the  valle3's  the 
forest  zone,  composed  of  native  trees,  extends  far  up  the 
hill-sides — Beech  and  other  deciduous  types  below.  Spruce, 
Larch,  Scotch  Fir,  or  Alpine  Pine  {P.  Cembra)  above, 
harbouring  a  rich  woodland  flora,  and  dying  out  at  5,000 
to  7,000  feet  into  old  gnarled  single  trees  or  a  scrub  of 
Mountain  Pine  or  Alder  (.4.  viridis).  Above  this  stretches 
the  grassy  alpine  zone,  extending  right  up  to  the  perennial 
snows,  and  gay  with  a  glorious  variety  of  lovely  plants. 
In  Ireland  the  hot  valley  zone  is  missing  :  the  forest  zone — 
which  in  our  country  normally  descends  to  sea-level — is 
-almost    obliterated    below    by    agriculture,    and    curtailed 

A2 


100  The  Irish  Naturalist.  October, 

above  by  westerly  winds,  and  in  any  case  so  much  interfered 
with  that  the  forest  flora  is  now  very  poor  ;  above  this, 
we  have  in  most  places  heavy  peat,  with  its  characteristic 
and  very  limited  vegetation.  On  cliffs  and  along  streamlets 
alone  do  we  get  any  echo  of  the  lovely  alpine  flora  of  Switzer- 
land. As  compared  with  Swiss  conditions,  our  alpines  have, 
it  would  seem,  a  very  bad  time.  There  they  get  a  gloriously 
warm  summer  sun,  and  throughout  the  whole  winter  they 
are  safely  tucked  away  under  the  snow,  comfortably 
dry  and  in  a  uniform  temperature.  With  us  they  are,  in 
winter,  mostly  fully  exposed  to  the  elements  and  have  to 
endure  incessant  winds,  soaking  rain,  and  frequent  ther- 
mo metric  changes.  It  seems  no  wonder  that  some  of  them 
have  sought  a  refuge  at  low  levels,  where  they  escape  some 
of  the  Irish  weather. 

And  that  brings  us  to  a  very  interesting  point  about 
the  Irish  flora  as  compared  with  that  of  Switzerland,  which 
is  this  :    the  vSwiss  alpines  stick  to  the  mountains,  while 
in  Ireland  many  of  them  are  found  at  low  levels.     Of  course 
the  first  part  of  this  sentence  does  not  apply  strictly  ;  many 
alpine  plants  are  brought  down,  especially  by  streams,  and 
may  be  found  in  Switzerland  at  comparatively  low  levels. 
But  these  occurrences  are  exceptional  and  temporary  ;  in 
general  the  zone  of  the  alpines  is  quite  clearly  defined. 
In  Ireland,  if  we  take  the  "  Highland  Type  "  of  Watson  as 
defining  our  alpine  flora,  we  find  that  out  of  34  representa- 
tives in  our  island  (Hawkweeds  excluded)  eleven  descend 
to  sea-level,  and  eight  more  come  down  to  650  feet.     Two- 
thirds  of  our  alpine  flora,  in  other  words,  descends  to  650 
feet  or  less,  while  at  the  other  end  only  13  of  the  34  ascend 
above  2,600  feet.     It    s  clear  that  were  we  classifying  the 
Irish  flora  de  novo,  we  would  not  include  in  the  alpine  group 
most  of  those  Irish  plants  which  in  the  Alps  and  other 
mountain  areas  are  exclusively  alpine.     This   is  a  puzzle 
of  which  no  satisfactory  solution  has  been  found,  nor  have 
I  one  to  offer.     The  interest  of  this  feature  is  heightened 
by  the  fact,  already  mentioned,  that  some  of  the  alpines 
which  in  Ireland  find  their  greatest  abundance  and  luxuri- 
ance at  very  low  levels,  are  in  the  Alps  quite  typical  high- 
level   species.     The   Mountain   Avens   and   Bearberry  are 


1923.  PRAEGER — Switzerland  and  Ireland.  loi 

excellent  examples.     And  to  add  to  the  Irish  confusion, 
these  low-level  alpines  grow  mixed,  as  is  well  known,  with 
the  most  marked  southern  plants  in  our  flora — the  famous 
Neotinea    intact  a   of    the    Mediterranean,    the    Maidenhair 
Fern,    Heaths   from   the    Pyrenees,   Arbutus,   and   so    on. 
And  on  top  of  them  all  are  our  American  immigrants,  such 
as  the   Pipewort.     But  the  old  problem  of  the  origin  of 
these  peculiar  ingredients  of  the  Irish  flora  does  not  arise 
at  present  :   we  may  confine  ourselves  to  the  puzzle  of  the 
low-level  alpines.     I  do  not  think  that  existing  climatic  or 
soil  conditions   will  account   for  their  immigration   here, 
though  they  have  allowed  them  to  continue  their  tenure 
from  some   bygone  time.     I  think  these  plants  must   be 
looked  on  as  dweUing  on  the  Burren  rocks  in  spite  of,  not 
because    of,     their    exist'ng    environment.     Their    whole 
European  distribution,  as  well  as  their  fossil  history  so  far 
as  it  is  known,  point  to  their  low-level  Irish  habitats  as 
being  quite  abnormal — unnatural,  if  one  may  use  the  word 
for  a  purely  natural  phenomenon.      It  is  to  the  past  history 
of  the  West  of  Ireland  that  we  must  look  for  the  key  of  the 
mystery  ;  and  that  history  is  still  a  closed  book,  which  the 
history  of  the   Swiss  flora,   even  if  it  were  fully  known, 
would  not  help  us  fully  to  read. 

To  return  to  our  comparison  of  the  Irish  and  Swiss 
floras,  it  is  interesting  to  note  the  relative  effect  of  sun  and 
wind  in  the  two  countries.  In  Switzerland  one  notices  a 
very  marked  difference  of  vegetation,  and  especially  of 
tree-growth,  between  northern  and  southern  slopes.  The 
Rhine  valley  furnishes  a  good  example.  The  mountains 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Rheinthal  are  densely  clothed 
with  tall  timber,  while  on  the  northern  side,  which  faces 
the  sun,  the  trees  are  thin  and  comparatively  stunted, 
owing  to  lack  of  water  in  summer.  No  such  result  of 
northern  or  southern  aspect  can  be  seen  in  Ireland.  On 
the  other  hand,  eastern  or  western  aspect  makes  all  the 
difference  with  us,  while  in  Switzerland  it  matters  little. 
The  west  wind  is  in  Ireland  the  most  incisive  of  all  the 
chmatic  factors.  The  eastern  slopes  of  hills  will  bear 
timber  where  the  western  slopes  are  hopeless  ;  all  over 
the  country  the  trees  have  an  eastward  sag  ;    even  in  our 


102  The  Irish  Naturalist .  October^ 

east  coast  gardens  shelter  from  the  west  is  a  problem  of 
first  importance,  the  sea  winds  from  the  east  being  an 
insignificant  factor  in  comparison.  The  mighty  Atlantic 
spreads  its  hand  far  over  our  islands  :  even  on  the  eastward 
slope  of  the  Pennine  chain  in  England  the  eastward  stoop 
of  the  trees  is  noticeable.  In  Switzerland,  whether  on 
hills  or  plains,  this  effect  does  not  make  itself  felt  or  notice- 
able. One  sees  it,  it  is  true,  in  the  deep  valley  of  the  Rhone 
before  it  debouches  into  the  Lake  of  Geneva  ;  but  there 
the  valley  runs  N.W.  and  S.E.,  and  the  proxim'ty  of  the 
great  sheet  of  water  enhances  an  effect  that  might  not 
otherwise  attract  notice.  Generally,  on  both  hill  and  plain, 
on  all  aspects,  the  trees  grow  taller  and  stra'ghter  than  we 
find  in  Ireland  save  in  the  most  sheltered  places,  and  this 
continues  often  up  to  5,000  or  even  6,000  feet. 

As  a  final  point  of  comparison,  the  lakes  may  be 
mentioned.  The  rivers  from  which  the  Swiss  lakes  derive 
their  supplies  are  mostly  either  of  wonderfully  clear  green 
water  or  of  "  gletscher  milch  "  the  milky  grey  water  that 
tells  of  a  source  below  a  glacier.  The  river  Inn,  thus  fed 
from  the  snows,  colours  the  whole  "  blue  Danube  "  in  this 
way  from  its  junction  downwards,  so  that  even  at  Vienna 
it  is  like  grey  soup.  The  lakes  are  effected  by  these  two 
sources  of  suppty,  some  being  much  clearer  than  others  : 
many  have  an  amazing  blue  or  green  clearness,  quite 
unknown  in  Ireland,  and  none  have  the  brown  peat-derived 
colour  of  most  of  the  Irish  lakes.  As  regards  their  flora, 
here  at  last  is  a  case  where  Ireland  can  hold  her  own  against 
Switzerland.  The  rich  aquatic  vegetation  of  Irish  rivers 
and  lakes  seems  to  exceed  in  quantity  and  in  variety  often 
to  equal,  that  of  the  Swiss  waters.  The  Swiss  lakes  are 
mostly  deep  with  steep  shores.  Running  along  their 
margins  in  the  train,  one  looks  down  into  wonderfully 
clear  water  ;  fish  one  sees  in  abundance,  but  often  hardly 
a  plant  ;  in  shallower  sheltered  waters  vegetation  is  much 
richer,  but  I  saw  nowhere  (of  course  m}^  observations  were 
very  hmited)  the  equal  of  the  subaquatic  groves  of  some 
of  our  Ir'sh  waters.  In  variety  too,  our  water-plants  can 
hold  their  own.  Of  pondweeds,  for  instance,  we  have  as 
many  as  Switzerland.     The  same  seems  to  apply  as  regards 


1^23.  Irish  Societies.  to3 

Water-Crowfoots,  Bur-reeds,  etc.  But  in  most  cases,  of 
course,  the  main  migration-stream  has  brought  to  Switzer- 
land species  which  have  not  succeeded  in  batthng  their 
way  across  Europe  to  its  most  western  outpost — Ireland. 


Dublin. 


IRISH     SOCIETIES. 

BELFAST    NATURALISTS'    FIELD    CLUB. 

July  21.  Excursion  to  Loughinisland.—- About  sixty  members  and 
visitors  of  the  Club  had  a  run  by  motor  coach  to  Loughinisland  and  its 
three  old  churches,  passing  and  inspecting  on  the  way  the  fine  dolmen 
(cromlech,  so  called  in  Ireland  and  Wales)  at  Annadorn,  which  was  well 
"  snap-shotted  "  by  some  of  the  party. 

The  conductor,  Mr.  S.  M.  Macoun,  here  called  on  a  member  to  describe 
how  a  portion  of  the  great  capstone  of  the  dolmen  came  to  be  blasted  off 
many  years  ago,  the  blasted  part  going  through  the  roof  of  the  house 
occupied  by  the  would-be  destroyer  who  then  ceased  his  operations.  The 
members  present  considered  it  a  pity  the  house  suffered  instead  of  himself. 

Arriving,  at  Loughinisland,  the  party  scattered,  the  zoologists  and 
botanists  to  the  lake  shore  and  the  antiquaries  to  the  three  churches, 

Mr.  R.  W.  H.  Blackwood,  J. P.,  a  club  member,  now  joined  the  party  and 
acted  as  local  conductor  for  this  area  and  Seaf orde,  giving  much  information 
about  the  history  of  the  churches  and  parish  generally. 

Some  large  specimens  of  Limnaea  palnstris  were  collected  on  the  lake 
shore,  and  a  centrally  keeled  and  typical  Planorbis  carinatus,  very 
local  in  N.E.  Ireland,  those  of  the  Lough  Neagh  basin  being  non-tj-pical. 
The  botanists  found  a  specimen  of  the  House-leek  near  the  lake  shore, 
and  a  patch  of  very  tall  Great  Water- dock  {Riimex  Hydrolapaihum),  some 
plants  of  which  measured  over  six  feet  high,  with  some  leaves  a  yard  long, 
.  the  first  of  a  number  of  very  tall  plants  collected  later  in  the  day. 

Leaving  the  deniesne,  the  church,  now  200  years  old  this  year,  was  in- 
spected, and  the  motors  taken  to  Drumcaw  cairn  and  cist,  on  the  farm  of 
Mr.  S.  Burke,  J. P.,  who  kindly  described  the  stone-lined  grave  in  the 
centre  of  the  cairn — its  contents,  and  urn,  etc.,  which  passed  into  the 
hands  of  late  Canon  Grainger,  D.D. 

Soon  Clough  Old  Castle  on  its  dun  was  passed  on  the  way  to  Down- 
patrick,  where  the  party  were  well  looked  after  at  Denver's  Hotel,  as  on 
many  visits  during  the  last  half-century.  After  tea  a  business  meeting, 
with  F.  A.  Heron,  D.L.,  in  the  chair  was  held  when  twelve  new  members, 
nine  senior  and  three  junior,  were  elected,  and  votes  of  thanks  passed  to 
Mrs.  Forde,  Mr.  Blackwood,  and  Mr.  S.  Burke. 


t04  The  Irish  Naturalist.  October, 

Having  an  hour  to  spare  before  starting  home,  a  visit  was  paid  to  the 
Cathedral  and  St.  Patrick's  grave,  some  of  the  lady  members  also  visiting 
the  old  jail.  The  botanists  found  that  the  very  rare  plant  Galium 
Cruciata,  was  still  to  be  found  on  The  Dun,  and  Erinus  alpinus  still 
flourishes  on  the  jail  wall. 

August  ii. — Over  sixty  members  accompanied  by  a  few  friends, 
visited  Carrickfergus  district  under  the  conductorship  of  T.  E.  Osborne 
and  G.  C.  Reilly.  Char-a-bancs  were  in  waiting  to  convey  them  to  Duncrue 
Fort  neighbourhood.  The  adjoining  ruins  of  Killyann  Church,  "  the 
church  by  the  river,"  were  visited.  Nothing  remains  of  this  ancient 
building  except  a  portion  of  the  west  wall. 

Returning  to  the  road,  the  char-a-bancs  were  again  mounted  to  bring 
the  party  to  the  "  Commons  Farm  "  Dining  Hall  for  tea.  Afterwards 
a  short  business  meeting  was  held — R.  S.  Lepper,  M.A.,  presiding  in  the 
absence  of  the  President — -when  several  new  members  were  elected,  and 
Mr.  Robert  Bell  gave  a  brief  address  on  the  geological  features  of  the 
Woodburn  district,  pointing  out  that  as  the  river  had  cut  out  a  deep 
channel  below  the  level  of  the  surrounding  country,  sections  of  the  different 
geological  strata  of  County  Antrim  were  well  exposed  in  turn. 

By  permission  of  the  Belfast  and  District  Water  Commissioners  their 
works  were  then  visited. 

From  the  lower  entrance  to  the  waterworks  a  short  walk  brought  the 
party  to  Carrickfergus,  where  the  Rector  of  St.  Nicholas,  the  Rev.  Canon 
M'Neice,  M.A.,  B.D.,  gave  a  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  ancient  town 
and  Church. 

September  i. — A  large  party  motored  via  Ballenure,  Larne,  and  the 
Coast  Road  to  Cushendun  and  Cushendall,  returning  via  Glenariff  and 
Ballymena.  A  most  enjoyable  day  was  spent  and  the  well-known  geolo- 
gicaland  botanical  features  of  the  district  were  seen  to  advantage.  The 
great  distance  covered  allowed  very  little  time  for  field-work. 

September  15. — Meeting  the  conductors  (R.  Bell  and  R.  J.  Welch) 
at  the  County  Down  Railway  terminus,  the  Field  Club  party,  on  arrival 
at  Dundrum,  were  conducted  to  the  pre-historic  sites  near  the  south  end 
oi  the  Inner  Bay.  Some  flint  scrapers  rewarded  the  searchers,  and  the 
material  collected  contained,  in  addition  to  the  flint  finds,  pieces  of  pottery, 
some  ornamented,  many  pot  boilers,  stone  hammers  and  two  anvil  stones  ; 
food  shells  were  not  abundant,  and  no  well-formed  arrowheads  were  found. 

After  tea  many  of  the  party  climbed  the  hill  to  visit  the  old  castle, 
which  has  the  most  perfect  circular  Norman  keep  in  Ireland. 

A  short  business  meeting  after  tea,  D.  Elliott,  B.A.,  in  the  chair,  was 
held  to  elect  seven  senior  and  one  junior  members. 


1923  Irish  Societies,  105 

ROUTE  NATURALISTS'  FIELD  CLUB. 

July  14.— Excursion  to  Whitepark  Bay  and  Ballintoy.- — ^Favoured 
by  charming  weather,  the  members  of  the  newly-formed  Club  turned  out 
in  strength  for  their  second  excursion,  and  were  reinforced  by  a  small 
contingent  oi  the  B  N.F.C.,  staying  at  Billycastle,  who  brought  up  the 
total  number  to  25.  The  Hon.  Sec.  of  the  Club,  Rev.  E.  M.  Gumley,  B.A., 
conducted. 

Making  their  way  down  a  gorge  in  the  Chalk  cliff  below  the  school,  where 
Mr.  Gumley  had  thoughtfully  provided  a  special  ladder,  the  party  reached 
a  knoll  commanding  a  wide  view  of  the  whole  bay  from  the  "  Park-end  " 
to  Port  Braddan,  from  which  point  R.  J.  Welch,  of  the  Belfast  Club,  gave 
a  concise  description  of  the  geological  formation  of  the  district.  They  then 
proceeded  towards  the  west  end  of  the  bay,  collecting  on  the  way  many 
botanical   specimens. 

Mr.  Welch,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks,  pointed  out  the  main  geological 
features  of  the  area,  the  eastern  termination  of  the  great  "  fault  "  at  Port 
Braddan,  which  throws  down  the  basalts  of  Bengore  Head  against  the 
Chalk  of  Whitepark.  The  position  of  the  Lias  clays  with  their  many 
Ammonites  and  other  fossils  was  shown  with  those  curious  volcanic  in- 
trusions, now  worn  by  the  sea  into  all  sorts  of  marine  sea  stacks,  such  as 
the  Elephant  Rock  and  the  Vista  Arch.  The  low  cliffs,  where  Helix 
aspersa,  constantly  hibernating  in  winter  and  aestivating  in  dry  weather, 
has  drilled  deep  holes  in  the  hard  Chalk,  was  also  pointed  out.  Further 
along,  the  pointed  hummock  with  its  small  prehistoric  stone  circle  was 
seen. 

Arrived  at  the  famous  Kitchen  Middens,  many  interesting  things 
were  found,  among  them  being  pot-boilers,  hammerstones,  pieces 
of  pottery  showing  attempts  at  ornamentation,  and  four  good  flint 
scrapers.  These  last  named  were  the  finds  of  a  junior  visitor  from 
Belfast.  The  best  finds  were  a  beautiful,  finely  fluted,  steep-nosed 
scraper,  and  the  form  known  as  a  tooth  scraper.  With  these 
were  many  bones  of  animals  used  for  food,  the  marrow  bones  split 
as  usual,  and  a  good  many  fragments  of  the  "  short-fired  "  cooking 
vessels  (not  sun-baked  as  they  are  so  often  erroneously  called),  some  of 
the  fragments  nicely  ornamented  with  various  patterns.  The  part  of  the 
dunes  where  landshells,  collected  by  wind- action  into  "  pockets  "  could  be 
sieved  out,  was  shown,  and  the  proper  sort  of  miller's  gauze  sieve  (home 
made)  useful  for  the  purpose  exhibited. 

A  move  was  now  made  to  the  Parochial  Schools,  where  a  very  welcome 
cup  of  tea  was  dispensed  by  Mrs.  Gumley,  and  books  useful  to  beginners 
in  natural  history  and  prehistoric  archaeology  shown  by  a  visitor  ;  a  special 
net  for  rock-pool  and  freshwater  fauna  collecting  was  also  exhibited. 
The  party  proceeded  to  Mount  Druid  cromlech  on  the  hill  behind  the 
rectory.  Here  a  short  talk  was  given  by  Mr.  Welch  on  the  nature  of 
cromlechs  in  general  and  this  one  in  particular.  He  gave  good  reasons 
for  believing  that  it  is  the  central  chamber  of  what  was  once  a  small  burial 
mound  or  cairn. 


io'6  The  Irish  Naturalist,  October; 


NOTES. 

Rare  Fishes  in  Irish  Waters.  ■ 

A  specimen  of  the  Belted  Bonito  [Pelamys  sarda)- wa.s  sent  from  Howth 
to  the  Ministry  of  Fisheries  on  July  27th,  1923,  by  Mr.  A.  King,  Fisheries 
Officer.  It  had  been  taken  the  previous  night  in  a  herring  net  by  the 
motor  fishing  boat  "  St.  Veronica "  of  Arklow.  The  specimen  was  a 
female,  38  cm.  in  length,  with  ovaries  well  developed  but  not  yet  ripe. 
The  ovarian  eggs  measured  .4  mm.  in  diameter.  In  the  stomach  were 
some  partially  digested  fish  bones.  P.  sarda  is  not  recorded  by  Day  as 
an  Irish  fish,  though  it  has  several  times  been  taken  on  the  coasts  of  Eng- 
land and  Scotland.  Mr.  A.  R.  Nichols,  however,  informs  me  that  there 
are  three  specimens  in  the  National  Museum  taken  respectively  at  Court- 
macsherry,  Co.  Cork,  in  August  191 1,  Carrigaloe,  Co.  Cork,  in  July,  191 3, 
and  Broadhaven,  Co.  Mayo,  in  July,  1915.  Probably  it  has  been  taken 
more  often  than  these  records  suggest,  but  has  been  mistaken  for  an  extra 
large  Mackerel,  It  is  common  in  the  Mediterranean  and  occurs  on  both 
sides  of  the  North  Atlantic  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  South  Atlantic. 
It  is  said  to  reach  a  length  of  three  feet,  though  most  of  the  specimens 
recorded  from  the  British  coasts  have  been  between  one  and  two  feet  in 
length.     The  present  specimen  has  been  added  to  the  Museum  collection, 

A  few  days  later  a  specimen  of  the  Opah  [Lamprys  luna)  was  received 
at  the  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  having. been  forwarded  by  Mr.  P.  Donovan, 
of  Wexford,  who  wrote  that  it  swam  right  on  to  the  beach  at  Rosslare  and 
was  captured.  Its  action  recalls  the  capture  of  the  specimen  from  Lambay 
recorded  in  the  Irish  Naturalist  for  191 6,  p.  32,  which  was  said  to  have 
struggled  violently  in  shallow  water,  apparently  determined  to  reach 
dry  land.  When  the  specimen  arrived  in  Dublin,  decomposition  had 
already  set  in,  but  the  brilliant  orange-red  colour  of  the  fins  and  the 
mauve  reflections  and  silvery  spots  on  the  body  still  gave  evidence  of  its 
magnificent  colouring  when  alive.  It  was  a  female,  measuring  97.5  cm. 
in  length,  and,  excluding  the  dorsal  fin,  50  cm.  in  height.  The  ovary  was 
spent  but  contained  some  residual  crushed  ova  which  when  perfect  would 
have  measured  about  2 . 5  mm.  in  diameter.  In  the  stomach  were  found 
several  cephalopod  beaks.  Miss  A.  L.  Massy  has  been  good  enough  to 
examine  these  and  considers  that  they  belong  to  two  species  of  squids, 
one  represented  by  a  large  pair  of  mandibles  and  the  other  by  seven  upper 
and  four  lower  mandibles.  They  cannot  be  referred  to  any  of  the  species 
commonly  found  in  the  Irish  Sea,  and  were  probably  the  remains  of  a 
meal  which  the  Opah  had  had  before  it  reached  our  waters. 

The  Opah  appears  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  Gulf  Stream.  There 
are  several  records  from  the  British  and  Irish  coasts.  Day  mentions  seven 
Irish  specimens  as  having  been  taken  between  1835  and  1851,  and  there 
are  in  the  National  Museum,  besides  the  Lambay  specimen,  two  casts  of 
fish  from  Galway  and  Wexford.  It  also  visits  the  coasts  of  Norway  almost 
every  year,  evidently  following  the  shoals  of  the  squid  Ommatostreptus 


1923.  Notes.  107 

sagittatus,  the  beaks  of  which,  according  to  the  Norwegian  naturaUst 
Collett,  are  frequently  found  in  its  stomach.  This  cephalopod  is  a  pelagic 
form  and  may  often  be  seen  at  the  surface  by  night,  fifty  miles  or  so  off 
the  west  coast  of  Ireland,  probably  on  its  northern  migration.  It  seems 
likely  that  the  specimens  of  the  Opah  which  come  ashore  in  the  British 
Isles  are  individuals  which  in  the  course  of  their  northerly  migration  have 
lost  their  way  and  wandered  into  shallow  water  of  low  salinity  where  their 
apparent  helplessness  may  be  due  to  their  unaccustomed  surroundings. 

Fisheries  Office,  Dublin.  G.  P,  Farran. 


The  Pearl-bordered  Fritillary. 

Mr.  R.  A.  Phillips  is  to  be  congratulated  in  adding  Argynnis  Euphrosyne 
to  the  list  of  Irish  batter  files.  From  the  fact  that  it  has  been  overlooked 
for  so  long,  it  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  its  Irish  distribution  must 
be  very  local,  when  one  considers  that  the  late  Mr.  \Vm.  F.  de  V.  Kane 
worked  and  investigated  the  lepidoptera  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Favour 
Royal  in  this  county  for  many  years,  and  yet  passed  over  Melitcea  aurinia, 
which  has  since  been  found  in  the  locality.  The  chance  discovery  of  the 
larvae  of  this  species  on  the  Erris  peninsula,  Co.  Mayo,  was  responsible 
for  the  addition  of  this  local  little  butterfly  to  the  county  list. 

Stewartstown.  Thomas  Greer. 


I 

I 


Aster  laevis  at  Lough  Neagh,  Co.  Tyrone. 

A  few  years  ago  I  observed  this  plant  sparingly  in  the  marshy  meadows 
which  fringe  the  western  shore  of  the  lough  for  miles.  Last  month 
accompanied  by  my  friend  Dr.  R.  J.  Spencer,  when  searching  for  Spiranthes 
Romanzoffima,  we  found  large  masses  of  the  Aster  in  full  bloom,  and 
extending  along  the  shore  for  over  half  a  mile,  and  also  on  some  of  the 
small  islets  in  the  lough.  Other  plants  found  at  the  same  time  were 
Ranunculus  Flammula  and  Epilobium  angusHfoHum,  the  latter  plentiful 
in  meadows  reclaimed  from  the   bog. 

Stewartstown.  Thomas  Greer, 


Beech  Fern  in  Co.  Cavan. 

On  24th   June  last  I  found   Polypodium  Phegopteris  in  considerable 
quantity  within  a  Umited  area  at  Bruce  Hill,  Co.  Cavan,  600  feet  elevation. 

Dundee.  G-.  G.  Blackwood. 


io8  The  Irish  Naturalist.  October,  1923. 


REVIEW. 

The  North-eastern  Flora. 

A  Second  Supplement  to,  and  Summary  of  Stewart  and  Corry's 
Flora  of  the  North-east  of  Ireland.  Compiled  by  Sylvanus 
Wear,  with  an  Introduction  by  R.  Lloyd  Praeger.  8vo,  pp.  xii-|- 
129.     Belfast  :  W.  Erskine  Mayne,   1923.     5s.  6d.  net. 

This  publication  is  designed  to  give  at  a  glance  a  view  of  the  north- 
eastern flora  and  its  distribution  within  the  counties  of  Down,  Antrim 
and  Londonderry,  and  at  the  same  time  to  provide  detailed  information 
relative  to  additions  to  the  flora  and  additional  stations  of  the  rarer  species, 
made  since  the  publication  of  the  1895  "  Supplement  "  of  Stewart  and 
Praeger,  which  carried  on  the  story  of  local  floristic  research  from  the  date 
of  the  original   "  Flora  "   (1888). 

The  present  compilation  is  due  to  the  industry  of  Sylvanus  Wear, 
who  died  within  a  week  of  completing  the  MS.  It  shows  that  knowledge 
of  the  north-eastern  flora  has  advanced  steadily.  A  good  many  plants 
have  been  added  to  the  flora,  and  what  is  equally  important,  a  good  many 
of  the  "  missing  "  species  of  the  first  Supplement  have  been  re-discovered 
in  the  district.  Among  these  are  some  plants  very  local  in  Ireland,  such 
as  Lathy rus  palustris,  Trifolium  striatum,  Pyrola  secunda,  Calamagrostis 
Epigejos. 

Of  plants  which  the  efforts  of  local  botanists  have  not  succeeded  in 
re-finding,  the  most  important  are  Carex  elongata,  Polypodium  Dryopteris 
and  Pilularia  globulifera.  These  were  among  the  many  local  discoveries 
of  Dr.  David  Moore,  the  first  and  third  belonging  to  the  Lough  Neagh 
flora,  while  the  second  was  seen  on  Knocklayd  near  Ballycastle. 

The  work  is  embellished  with  photographs  of  Sylvanus  Wear  and  other 
local  botanists,  and  of  Spiranthes  Romanzoffiana,  the  most  interesting 
species  of  the  local  flora. 

OBITUARY. 

Madame  Christen. 

We  observe  with  regret  an  announcement  of  the  death  of  Madame 
Christen  {ree  Thompson)  which  took  place  at  Llandudno  on  July  1 6th. 
As  Miss  Sydney  Mary  Thompson  she  was  a  well  known  and  much  appre- 
ciated member  of  the  Belfast  Naturalists'  Field  Club  for  many  years. 
When,  stimulated  by  the  work  of  Prof.  Percy  Kendall,  the  Club  organized, 
in  1893)  research  on  the  local  glacial  deposits.  Miss  Thompson  undertook  the 
Secretaryship  of  the  Committee,  and  for  six  or  seven  years  furnished 
reports  in  which  a  large  body  of  useful  observations  were  recorded,  the 
tabulation  of  local  erratics  and  their  origin  being  a  valuable  piece  of  work. 
She  served  on  the  Committee  of  the  Club  for  a  number  of  years,  and  her 
departure  from  Belfast,  consequent  on  her  marriage  to  the  artist  Rodolphe 
Christen,  left  the  Club  poorer  by  the  loss  of  one  of  its  most  active  members. 


I 


November,  1923.  The  Irish  Naturalist.  109 

THE  LARVA  OF  A  HYDROPHILID  BEETLE, 
MEGASTERNUM  BOLETOPHAGUM. 

BY   K.    C.    JOYCE    PHILLIPS. 

The  larva  described  in  this  paper  was  found  by  Mr.  James 
L.  McWhinney,  A.R.C.Sc.L,  in  the  course  of  the  investiga- 
tion on  the  fauna  of  a  pasture  soil,  in  which  he  is  engaged 
at  the  Albert  Agricultural  College,  Glasnevin.  For  the 
purpose  of  this  research,  samples  of  soil  are  taken  from  a 
field  in  permanent  pasture  at  intervals  of  a  week  or  ten  days, 
each  sample  being  a  nine-inch  cube,  which  is  divided  into 
five  horizontal  layers,  the  topmost  an  inch,  and  the  other 
four  two  inches  in  depth.  The  live  animals  found  in  each 
layer  are  counted  and  identified  as  far  as  possible,  larval 
insects  being  kept  for  rearing  ;  this  is  specially  desirable 
in  the  case  of  larvae  of  which  no  description  appears  to  be 
available. 

In  the  topmost  layer  of  a  sample  taken  on  6th  February, 
1922,  two  small  unknown  beetle-grubs  were  found.  They 
were  of  a  dirty  pale  brown  colour,  difficult  to  see  in  the 
soil  when  at  rest,  with  large  head  and  conspicuous  asym- 
metrical mandibles,  the  remarkable  appearance  of  which 
at  once  aroused  curiosity.  The  larvse  moved  forward  at 
a  steady  rate,  the  mode  of  progression  being  quite  distinct 
from  that  of  a  maggot.  Similar  larvae  were  seen  in  most 
of  the  samples  taken  until  May  22nd,  and  they  were  always 
found  in  the  topmost  layer,  that  is  within  an  inch  of  the 
surface.  Most  of  them,  unfortunately,  died,  but  two 
specimens  pupated  in  I\Iay,  and  the  adult  beetles  emerged 
on  i8th  June.  Mr.  J.  X.  Halbert,  M.R.LA.,  of  the  National 
Museum,  kindly  identified  these  as  Megasternum  holeto- 
phagum  Marsh,  one  of  the  smaller  Hydrophilidse  common 
in  most  parts  of  Ireland.  Reference  to  Schiodte's  great 
work  on  beetle-larvae  showed  that  a  similar  asymmetrical 
condition  in  the  mandibles  is  characteristic  of  the  allied 
Cercyon  analis  Payk.^         As    no    larva    belonging   to    the 

ij.    C.    Schiodte  :    De    Metamorphosi    Eleutheratorum  Observationeti. 
Natiirh.   Tidsskr.   (3)  i.,    (1861),  pp.  219-20,  pi.  vi.,  figs.   16-25. 

A 


no 


The  Irish  Naturalist. 


November, 


Figure  I. — Larva  of  Megasternum  boletophagum. 

1.  Dorsal  view,  x  20.  2.  Eight  Feeler,  x  100.  3.  Left  Mandible, 
dorsal  view,  x  160.  4.  Eight  Mandible,  dorsal  view,  x  160.  5.  Eight 
Maxilla,  ventral  view,  x  100.  6.  Labium,  x  160,  7.  Ventral  contour 
of  mesothorax  with  vestigial  leg,  inner  aspect,  x  160.  8.  Cerci,  dorsal 
view,  x    120. 


1923-       Phillips. — The  Larva  of  a  Hydrophilid  Beetle.        m 

genus  Megasternum  appears  to  have  been  yet  described, 
some  details  of  the  structure  of  this  interesting  grub  may 
be  of  interest.  I  wish  to  thank  Mr.  McWhinncy  for  his 
kindness  in  placing  these  specimens  at  my  disposal,  and 
giving  me  the  particulars  mentioned  above  as  to  their 
place  of  abode  and  time  of  occurrence.  I  would  like  also 
to  thank  Professor  G.  H.  Carpenter  for  the  help  and  advice 
that  he  has  given  me  in  the  preparation  of  this  paper,  and 
for  the  encouragement  that  he  afforded  me  while  working 
in  the  zoological  laboratory  of  the  Royal  College  of  Science 
for  Ireland. 

Description  of  the  Megasternum  larva. 

Head  obovate  as  long  as  broad  ;  clypeus  narrow,  convex, 
unidentate  ;  frontal  processes  short  (fig.  I,  i),  occiput  with 
medium  groove  (fig.  I,  i)  ;  hypostome  narrow  with  rounded 
base  (fig.  I,  6). 

Feelers  with  first  segment  twice  as  long  as  second,  which 
is  a  little  longeo*  than  the  third,  terminal  bristle  elongate, 
papilla  on  second  segment  stout  (fig.  I,  2.). 

Mandibles  evenly  rounded  with  acute  apex  ;  right 
mandible  (fig.  I,  4)  with  a  single  large,  obhquely  truncated 
tooth  and  ridged  surface  internally;  left  mandible  untoothed 
(fig.  I,  3),  but  with  a  series  of  six  or  seven  backwardly 
directed  serrations  on  the  inner  edge  ;  each  mandible  with 
two  short  stout  bristles  on  the  outer  aspect  near  the  base. 

MaxillcB  (fig.  I,  5),  with  cardo,  broad  stipes  bearing 
numerous  spines  externally,  palpiger  shortly  cylindrical, 
galea  and  lacinia  vestigial  ;  palp  with  three  segments  the 
terminal  crowned  with  four  small  papillae. 

Labium  (fig.  I,  6)  with  small  mentum,  two-segmented 
palps,  and  long,  subtriangular  hgula. 

Thorax  with  dorsal  scuta  ;  pronotum  well  chitinised, 
covering  the  segment  ;  mesonotum  shorter  and  feebler  ; 
metanotum  in  two  sections  divided  by  linear  membranous 

tract. 

Legs  vestigial,  represented  by  a  pair  of  spiniferous  tuber- 
cles on  the  ventral  surface  of  each  thoracic  segment  (fig.  7). 
No  distinct  segmentation  is  apparent  in  these  vestigial  legs, 
each  of  which  has  a  long  bristle  inserted  on  its  inner  aspect. 


112  The  Irish  Naturalist.  November, 

Abdomen  with  feebly  developed  terga,  the  cuticle  covered 
with  numerous  minute  tubercles  giving  a  roughened  appear- 
ance to  the  body  (fig.  1,  i)  ;  last  abdominal  tergum  with 
short  median  spine   (fig.   I,   8). 

Cerci  prominent,  sub-conical,  inserted  close  together, 
each  with  a  short  dorsal  spine  and  terminal,  elongate, 
flexible  bristle   (fig.  I,  8). 

Length  of  full-fed  larva  4  mm. 

Colour  mxottled  brown. 


Comparison   of  Larva  of  Megasternum   with  allied 

Genera. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  Megasternum  larva  is 
very  like  that  of  the  larval  Cercyon  described  and  figured  by 
Schiodte.  According  to  him  the  larva  of  Cercyon  is  legless, 
while,  as  stated  above,  the  Megasternum  larva  has  clearly 
recognisable  though  vestigial  legs.  It  is,  therefore,  as 
regards  this  character,  intermediate  between  Cercyon  and 
Sphaeridium,  whose  grub  according  to  Schiodte  ^  has 
small  but  distinctly  segmented  legs.  The  head  in  the 
Megasternum  larva  is  relatively  broader  than  in  Cercyon  ; 
the  segments  and  terminal  spine  of  the  feeler  are  shorter, 
the  large  antennal  papilla  relatively  shorter  and  stouter. 
In  both  genera,  the  larvae  agree  in  the  curious  and  character- 
istic asymmetry  of  the  mandibles,  the  only  notable  difference 
being  the  feebler  development  in  Cercyon  of  the  serrations 
on  the  inner  edge  of  the  left  mandible  as  compared  with 
the  Megasternum  grub. 

The  base  of  the  hypostome,  rounded  in  the  latter,  is 
triangular  in  Cercyon,  and  the  labial  palps  of  Megasternum 
are  shorter  and  thicker.  In  the  Megasternum  larva  the 
mesonotum  and  metanotum  are  more  strongly  developed 
than  in  Cercyon.  The  cerci  in  the  latter  bear  elongate 
lateral  bristles  in  addition  to  the  terminal  ones  present  in 
Megasternum,  the  stout  dorsal  spines  of  which  appear  to 
be  absent  in  Cercyon. 

Cambridge. 


1  Op.  cit.,  pp.  220-1,  pi.  vi.  figs.  6,   13. 


1923-  The  Balance  of  Nature.  113 

THE    BALANCE    OF    NATURE. 

The  danger  of  turning  loose  foreign  animals  and  of 
introducing  foreign  plants  into  any  country  has  often  been 
pointed  out  ;  and  almost  as  frequently  the  danger  has 
been  proved  up  to  the  hilt  by  practical  experiments.  The 
Scotsman  who  thought  it  would  be  nice  to  have  a  thistle 
to  keep  him  company  when  he  went  to  Australia  and  the 
man  who  introduced  the  Rabbit  into  the  same  continent 
are  two  well  known,  and  no  longer  honoured,  experimenters  ; 
while  the  case  of  the  Grey  Squirrel  at  Castle  Forbes  referred 
to  by  Mr.  Watt,  p.  95  ante,  is  another  case  in  point.  Indeed 
one  has  merely  to  open  any  book  dealing  with  economic 
zoology  to  obtain  numerous  proofs  of  the  dangers  attending 
such  introductions. 

The  following  is  a  good  example  : — "  It  appears  to 
have  been  accidently  introduced  into  New  England  some 
seventeen  years  ago  on  rose  bushes  from  France.  Since 
then  it  has  rapidly  spread  and  has  not  only  caused  damage 
over  a  large  tract  of  country,  but  appears  to  be  still  on 
the  increase."  ^ 

There  is,  moreover,  another  and  quite  different  reason 
for  objecting  to  such  introductions,  namely  that  in  almost 
every  country  nowadays  there  is  a  body  of  naturalists 
engaged  in  working  out  its  fauna  and  flora  and  the 
distribution  thereof,  and  for  any  person  to  introduce  a 
foreign  species — or  worse  still  a  native  species  which  has 
a  restricted  range  in  another  district — can  only  tend  to 
render  more  complicated  the  already  very  difficult  labours 
of  the  students  of  distribution.  Accidental  introductions 
cannot  always  be  avoided,  but  it  seems  strange  to  the 
writer  that  members  of  a  learned  Society  in  Ireland  should 
be   guilty   of   such   a   thing. 

A  friend  who  recently  visited  the  Zoo  at  Dubhn  was 
naturally  interested  in  the  Lepidoptera  larvae  which  are 
being  exhibited  there  and  he  asked  the  attendant  what 


1  Vide  Theobald  :    Insect  Pests  of  Fruit,  p.  22,  under  the  Brown  Tail 
Moth. 


114  ^^^  Irish  Naturalist.  November, 

was   done   with   the   perfect   insects   when   they  emerged. 
The   reply   was    "  Oh  !    we   let   them   out  !  " 

It  is  of  course  always  urged  by  those  who  introduce 
species  that  their  particular  brand  is  quite  harmless, 
"  because  it  is  so  rare  in  its  own  country/'  The  reason 
that  it  is  so  rare  in  its  native  haunts  may  very  often  be 
due  to  the  fact  that  it  has  a  most  efficient  parasite  or  enemy, 
and  if  relieved  of  the  presence  of  this  foe  in  its  new  haunts, 
the  rarest  species  may  well  become  a  pest,  though  in  the 
case  of  the  Dublin  Zoo,  it  is  more  the  likelihood  of  false 
records  for  rare  insects  arising,  than  danger  of  a  pest, 
that    has    prompted    the  writer    to    make    this    protest. 

He  has  also  recently  been  informed  that  on  an  island 
off  the  east  coast  of  Ireland,  in  order  to  give  some 
introduced  species  of  birds  a  better  chance  to  multiply, 
the  owner  has  permitted  the  "  shooting  of  hawks."  It  is 
to  be  hoped  that  the  islanders,  owing  to  this  misguided  move, 
will  not  suffer  as  the  inhabitants  of  Rathlin  Island  are 
said  to  be  doing  from  the  depredations  of  the  Brown  Rats 
and  Rabbits.  Nevertheless  I  think  our  ornithologists 
could  inform  the  owner  of  the  island  that  this  is  more 
than  likely  to  be  the  only  result  which  will  arise  from  the 
shooting  of  hawks. 

An  Irish  Naturalist. 


A    PLEA    FOR    MOSS    STUDY. 

BY   REV.    W.    R.    MEGAW,    B.A. 

An  impetus  to  the  study  of  Mosses  and  Hepatics  has  been 
given  by  the  recent  formation  of  the  British  Bryological 
Society,  with  Mr.  H.  N.  Dixon,  author  of  the  valuable 
"  Handbook,"  as  first  President.  Added  to  this  we  have 
Mr.  J.  A.  Wheldon's  exhaustive  investigation  of  that 
difficult   group   of   Hypna,    the    Harpidia. 

It  has  been  felt  for  some  time  that  the  classification 
of  the  Harpidia  required  overhauling.  Mr.  Wheldon  set 
himself  to  the  task  and  the  results  are  to  be  found  in  his 


1923.  Megaw. — A  Plea  for  Moss  Study.  115 

"  Key  to  the  Harpidroid  Hypna,"  reprinted  from  the 
1921-2  numbers  of  "  The  Naturahst."  Harpidia  are 
extremely  variable  in  form  and  colour  and  perhaps  in 
no  other  group  is  there  such  warrantable  scope  for  varietal 
differentiation.  Even  in  pre-Wheldon  namings  we  have, 
in  the  "  Census  Catalogue  of  British  Mosses  "  for  example, 
under  Hypnum  aduncum  Hedw.,  a  list  of  varieties  reaching 
to  77.  The  type  and  var.  fS  each  claim  one  Irish  district  ; 
8  has  nine  Irish  districts  to  its  credit  ;  and  in  August, 
1920,  I  gathered  var.  77  near  Groomsport,  in  Co.  Down. 

There  is  much  valuable  work  to  be  done  in  the  field 
of  Irish  bryology,  and  the  new  Society  together  with  recent 
additional  literature  make  the  present  a  suitable  time  to 
appeal  for  recruits.  The  study  of  Mosses  has  not  been 
popularised  to  any  great  extent.  It  is  comparatively  easy 
to  excite  interest  in  Flowering  Plants  and  Ferns,  but  the 
reasons  often  advanced  for  shunning  bryology  are  more 
apparent  than  real.  The  thought  of  the  microscope  perhaps 
acts  as  a  chief  deterrent.  The  microscopic  work  required 
is  really  very  elementary,  if  undue  "  splitting  "  be  avoided. 
After *a  little  experience,  many  Mosses,  once  determined, 
can  be  named  in  the  field  with  or  wdthout  the  aid  of  a 
hand  lens.  The  botanist  who  includes  Mosses  in  his  scope 
has  this  advantage,  that  he  may  continue  his  field  work 
throughout  the  year.  Examination  of  specimens  may  be 
made  even  long  after  the  date  of  collecting,  as  Mosses 
well  dried  may  be  preserved  for  many  years  without 
detriment.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  fascinating  branch 
of  study  will  not  be  neglected  by  the  younger  generation 
of  Irish  botanists. 

Belfast. 


ii6  The  Irish  Naturalist.  November,  1923. 


NOTES. 

Foxes  in  Co.  Tyrone. 

Mr.  N.  H.  Foster's  notes  in  the  September  number  of  the  Irish 
Naturalist  prompts  me  to  state,  that  Foxes  are  now  common  in  the 
mountains  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Lough  Fea.  They  made  their  first 
appearance  here  some  eight  years  ago,  and  have  increased,  despite  the 
large  numbers  destroyed  by  shooting  and  trapping. 

Stewartstown.  Thomas  Greer. 


A  Tunny  Stranded  at  Castlerock. 

While  at  Castlerock,  Co.  Londonderry,  in  September,  I  found  after 
some  gales  in  the  early  part  of  the  month,  a  large  fish  thrown  ashore 
on  the  strand,  and  one  which  is  very  rarely  recorded  from  our  shores.  In 
fresh  condition  it  had  lost  the  front  portion  of  its  head,  up  to  and  including 
its  eyes  ;  it  had  probably  been  in  contact  with  the  revolving  propeller 
of  a  small  steamer,  for  it  had  two  deep  gashes  in  its  under  side.  It  was 
a  very  conspicuous  object  on  the  clean  sand  between  tide  marks  for  a 
few  days,  as  it  measured  8  feet  3  inches  in  length.  It  was  probably 
almost  9  feet  long  when  alive.  The  mackerel-like  tail  measured  27 
inches  from  point  to  point.  From  a  rough  sketch  made  of  it  it  was  easy, 
on  comparing  it  with  the  plate  in  Couch's  "  Fishes  of  the  British  Isles," 
to  identify  it  as  a  full-sized  Tunny  [Orcynus  thynnus  Liitken)  which  that 
author  gives  as  a  Mediterranean  fish,  seldom  captured  outside  the 
Gibraltar  Straits.  In  vol.  iv.  of  "  The  Natural  History  of  Ireland,"  by 
Wm.  Thompson,  it  is  recorded  that  in  November,  1841,  a  large  Tunny 
was  obtained  in  Ballyholme  Bay,  near  Bangor,  County  Down,  which 
measured  8  feet  3  inches  in  length,  and  was  computed  to  weigh  300  lbs. 
It  was  impossible  to  ascertain  the  weight  of  the  Castlerock  example, 
but  on  a  rough  estimate  it  may  have  been  put  down  at  between  three 
or  four  cwt. 

W.    SWANSTON.  • 

Dunmurry,  Belfast. 
26/9/23. 

Galium  sylvestre  in  Co.  Derry. 

On  the  29th  July  I  gathered  Galium  sylvestre  Poll.,  on  Benevenagh, 
Co.  Derry.  The  plant  occurs  sparingly  but  is  quite  typical.  I  can  find 
no  trace  of  a  previous  Co.  Derry  record. 

W.  R.  Megaw. 
Belfast. 


December,  1923.  The  Irish  Naturalist.  117 

STRAY    REFLECTIONS    ON    THE    IRISH    ALPINE 

FLORA. 

BY  R.    F.    SCHARFF,    B.SC,    PH.D. 

Most  of  those  who  read  Dr.  Praeger's  interesting  notes  on 
the  botanical  contrast  between  Switzerland  and  Ireland  in 
the  October  number  of  this  Journal  must  have  wished  to 
learn  more  of  the  author's  experiences  in  the  Alps  and 
among  the  glorious  flora  of  those  mountains.  He  tells  us 
in  simple  plain  language  what  are  the  features  that  struck 
him  most  in  the  flora  of  the  Swiss  mountains  as  compared 
with  that  of  Ireland.  Carefully  avoiding  any  controversial 
subjects  such  as  the  origin  of  the  flora,  he  only  briefly 
refers  to  their  existence.  Why  should  the  Swiss  alpine 
plants  for  instance  stick  to  the  mountains,  whereas  in 
Ireland  a  few  of  the  same  species  are  found  at  low  levels  ? 
The  author  suggests  that  the  low-level  Irish  habitat  of  these 
alpines  is  abnormal,  and  he  expresses  the  opinion  that  the 
key  of  this  mystery  in  distribution  lies  in  the  past  history 
of  the  west  of  Ireland.  He  also  dwells  on  the  surprising 
fact  that  these  Irish  low-level  alpines  grow  mxixed  with  the 
most  marked  southern  plants  of  our  flora. 

It  is  not  for  the  first  time  that  these  pecuHarities  have 
been  mentioned  and  discussed  in  the  pages  of  this  Journal. 
In  the  fauna,  similar  cases  of  distribution  have  been  pointed 
out,  so  that  the  phenomenon  is  not  confined  to  plants. 
The  older  subscribers  of  the  Irish  Naturalist  will  remember 
the  stirring  presidential  address  to  the  Dubhn  Naturalists' 
Field  Club  entitled  "  The  Mingling  of  the  North  and  the 
South,"  which  was  dehvered  by  our  late  editor,  Prof. 
Carpenter  and  pubHshed  in  this  IMagazine  (vol.  v.,  1896). 
The  author  quoted  many  instances  of  animals  of  northern 
or  alpine  origin  which  in  Ireland  occupy  the  same 
territory  as  those  which  certainly  came  from  the  south. 
And  in  his  opinion  the  latter  had  reached  Ireland  before 
the  "  Ice  Age  "  and  had  probably  survived  it  on  some 
old  tract  of  land,  now  submerged,  to  the  south  or  west  of 
Ireland. 


Ii8  The  Irish  Naturalist.  December, 

Now  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  in  late  Pliocene  times, 
or  just  before  the  time  when  the  climate  of  Europe  is 
supposed  to  have  become  greatl}^  refrigerated,  both  the 
fauna  and  flora  as  a  whole  were  similar  to  what  they  are 
to-day.^  No  doubt  there  still  existed  then  a  large  number 
of  species,  particularly  among  the  mammals,  which  having 
survived  from  previous  geological  periods  are  no  longer 
with  us.  We  must  also  assume  that  certain  species 
originated'  during  the  subsequent  Pleistocene  period  or 
*'  Ice  Age  "  as  it  has  been  called.  But  the  great  mass  of 
our  animals  and  plants  must  have  come  into  existence 
during  a  time  when  the  climate  of  Europe  was  temperate 
or  mild.  Some  forms,  especially  those  which  are  known 
as  persistent  types,  may  have  originated  in  still  earlier 
periods  than  the  Pliocene,  when  Europe  had  a  warm  or 
even  semi-tropical  climate. 

Dr.  Praeger  states  that  in  Pliocene  times  a  new  flora 
of  Europe  came  into  existence  mainly  derived  from  the 
Asiatic  highlands.  I  am  not  sure  that  this  view  is  generally 
accepted  by  botanists,  but  it  seems  as  if  the  alpine  plants 
and  animals  at  any  rate  were  largely  of  Asiatic  origin. 
Irish  botanists  visiting  Siberia  in  the  summer  would  be 
surprised  to  find  there  puzzles  comparable  to  those  they 
were  familiar  with  in  Europe.  The  famous  Edelweiss  (Leonto- 
podittm  alpinum)  of  the  high  Alps,  which  can  be  successfully 
cultivated  in  almost  any  Irish  garden,  is  a  common  weed 
in  the  damp  meadows  of  Siberia.  There  are  many  such 
examples  which  we  need  not  enlarge  upon.  We  seem 
therefore  to  share  with  Siberia  the  peculiarity  that  alpine 
plants  grow  naturally  at  a  low  level,  whereas  in  Switzerland 
they  need  the  mountain  air.  Although  climatically  Siberia 
and  Ireland  have  little  in  common,  the  aipines  in  the 
former  country  are  everywhere  protected  from  the  severe 
cold  of  the  winter  by  a  thick  covering  of  snow.  In  the 
Alps  they  flourish  under  similar  conditions.      It  is  only  in 

1  Reid,   C- — Relation  of  the  present  plant  population  of  the  British 
Isles  to  the  Glacial  Period.       Irish  Naturalist,  vol,  xx.,  pp.  201-209,  191 1. 

Kennard,  a.  S.  and  B.  B.  Woodward. — British  Pliocene  non- 
marine  Mollusca.  Proc.  Malacol.  Soc.  London,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  187-201, 
1899. 


102}.  ScHARFF.  — S7m)'  Reflections  on  the  Irish  Alpine  Flora.  119 

Ireland  that,  owing  to  the  mild  winters,  the}'  do  not  need 
any  protection.  Alpine  plants  in  fact  do  not  tolerate 
extremes  of  temperature,  and  it  always  seems  to  me  strange 
that  so  many  botanists  connect  the  presence  of  fossil 
remains  of  alpine  plants  with  a  former  prevalence  of  an 
arctic  climate.  When  we  wish  to  grow  the  rarer  species 
of  alpines  successfully  in  the  plain,  we  do  not  expose  them 
to  the  cold  blasts  of  winter.  We  grow  them  under  glass 
in  a  frame  where  they  are  surrounded  by  a  rather  mild 
temperature  and  effectively  protected  from  climatic 
extremes.  Most  of  the  alpine  plants  of  Switzerland  cannot 
spread  into  the  lower  regions  of  the  country  because  they 
would  be  exposed  there  to  drought,  and  to  extreme  cold  in 
the  winter.  And  for  this  reason  horticulturists  find  it 
impossible  to  grow  many  of  the  alpines  in  the  open  air 
in  the  lowlands  of  central  Europe.  The  wide  range  and 
discontinuous  distribution  of  many  of  the  alpine  plants 
indicate  that  the}'^  could  not  have  spread  from  east  to  west 
or  from  north  to  south  as  long  as  the  climate  of  Europe 
resembled  the  one  we  have  now.  It  has  been  suggested 
that  it  was  during  the  Glacial  Epoch  that  these  plants 
spread  or  wandered  as  we  may  say  across  vast  stretches 
of  country  and  thus  reached  their  present  habitats.  This 
suggestion  is  founded  on  the  fact  that  the  remains  of  a  few 
plants  such  as  Salix  polaris,  Dryas  ociopetala  and  Betiila 
nana  have  been  discovered  in  the  lowlands  of  central  and 
western  Europe.  But  of  these  only  Dryas  octopetala  can 
be  considered  a  truly  alpine  plant,  and  to  judge  from  its 
extensive  range  it  must  be  of  great  antiquity.  Dryas 
octopetala,  as  well  as  all  other  alpine  and  northern  plants 
found  in  Ireland,  grows  there  naturally  and  apparently  in 
a  perfectly  healthy  condition,  in  a  temperate  oceanic 
climate  almost  at  sea-level.  Considering  that  most  of  the 
true  alpines  can  be  grown  in  the  lowlands  of  Ireland,  does 
it  not  seem  as  if  we  might  formerly  have  had  similar 
climatic  conditions  spread  all  over  the  European  continent  ? 
Would  not  such  conditions  favour  the  geographical 
distribution  of  alpine  plants  ?  Prof.  Brockmann-Jerosch 
indeed  supports  the  view  that  the  cHmate  of  Europe  during 
the  Ice  Age  must  have  been  oceanic  and  that  the  Ice  Age 

A  2 


12  0  The  Irish  XafitraJisf.  December, 

itself  had  its  origin  in  an  oceanic  climate  combined  with 
an  increased  precipitation.  '  A  large  part  of  central 
Europe  was  covered  by  the  sea  in  Tertiarv  times  so  that 
the  climate  must  then  have  been  more  oceanic  and  more 
equable  than  it  is  now.  We  know  in  fact  from  the  remains 
of  both  plants  and  animals  that  the  seas  had  a  fauna  allied 
to  that  of  the  Mediterranean  and  that  the  flora  of  the  land 
was  semi-tropical,  at  an\'  rate  in  Yhe  earlier  parts  of  the 
Tertiary  Era.  As  extremely  few  of  the  alpine  plants 
possess  hard  leathery  leaves  which  might  favour  the  survival 
of  their  imprints  in  mud  or  beds  of  cla}',  we  know  nothing 
of  the   past    range  of  the    great    mass  of    these    plants. 

No  doubt  pre-(ilacial  deposits  containing  seeds  are 
known,  but  so  far  only  from  the  east  coast  of  England, 
and  the}^  contain  no  seeds  of  alpine  plants."  There  is  no 
positive  evidence  therefore  that  the  majority  of  the  alpine 
plants  have  originated  and  s[)read  in  Tertiary  times, 
although  this  opinion  i^  put  forward  by  some  very  eminent 
botanists,  among  them  Prof.  Engler."' 

If  this  view  should  prove  to  be  correct,  the  oceanic 
low-level  habitat  of  some  arctic-alpine  plants  such  as 
Drvas  octopetala  should  not  be  considered  as  abnormal. 
On  the  contrary  we  should  have  to  conclude  that  their 
habitat  in  the  remote  past,  long  before  they  were  scattered 
from  their  original  stations,  was  in  the  lowlands.  Their 
Irish  habitat  would  thus  be  a  true  relict  of  the  past — a 
survival  from  Tertiary  times.  Their  mountain  habitat 
would  have  to  be  looked  upon  as  an  abnormal  one  to 
which  the  alpines  had  only  gradually  adapted  themselves, 
having  met  there  conditions  suitable  to  their  requirements. 

Bray. 


1  Brockmann-Jerosch,    H.  : — Die  \>getation    des    Diluviums    in   dcr 
Schweiz.  Verhandl.  d.   Schweiz.  Xaturf.  Gesellsch.     1920. 

2  Reid,  C.  and  E.  M.  Reid  : — The  pre-glacial  flora  of  l^ritain.     Journ. 
Linn.  See.  London  (Botany),  vol.  xxxviii.,  1907. 

^  Engler,  a.  :— Monographic  der  Gattung  Saxifraga.     Brc.slau,   1872. 


1923-  Lei-. — Iri^h  Spliui^iia.  12 1 

I  IM  S  H     S  P  H  A  c;  N  A  . 

BY    WILLIAM    A    LEE,    M.A.,    PH. I). 

Previous  lists  uf  Irish  Spluigiia  were  published  in  liic  Irish 
NaturalisI  (vols.  xxxi.  No.  2,  xxxii.  Nos.  j  and  ()).  1  am 
now  able  to  furnisli  a  few  additions  to  the  S])]ia,i,ni;i.  of 
County  \\'icklow  (Division  20),  the  Result  of  somewhat 
extensive  i,^atherings  in  Wieklow  in  the  hilly  e.ountr\-  dr;i.iiu-d 
by  till'  ri\ers  Avonmore  and  Axonbeg,  last  October.  Of 
these,  twv)  varieties  Jind  one  form  cannot  be  traced  in 
previous  Irish  lists,  while  12  varieti(>s  and  17  fornis  a))])ear 
to  be  recorded  for  the  hrst  time  in  Division  20.  It  is 
appai-ent  from  this  result  in  a  restricted  area  that  we  arc 
still  far  from  a  complete  catalogue  of  the  Irish  Sphagna, 
and  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  so  few  workers  have 
taken  seriouslv  in  hand  the  surve\'  of  the  suitable  ground 
on  which  the  members  of  the  group  are  likeh'  to  occur. 
Quite  apart  from  the  strictly  scientific  hitcrest  of  this 
pursuit,  there  is  always  the  varied  beauty  of  the  material 
which,  at  certain  seasons,  offers  a  charm  to  the  eye  and 
mind  excelled  b}.'  scarcely  any  small  natural  objects.  When, 
on  some  desolate  mountain -side,  we  come  upon  cushions  of 
Sphagna,  showing  the  crimson  of  S.  quinqucfariiim  var. 
roseuni,  or  the  emerald  such  as  \vc  find  in  S.  cuspidaiujii, 
or  the  am.ber  or  chocolate  shades  conspicuous  in  other 
species,  we  are  impresr.ed  \vith  the  contrast  between  the 
wild  massive  mountain  and  the  gentle  soothing  eiiect  rf 
the  Sphagna.  Even  the  stem  and  leaf  forms  present  so 
much  artistic  arrangement  <iiid  \ariety  that  a  cultun  d 
mind  would  occupy  itself  witli  great  deligkit  in  detecting 
the  elements  which  constitute  these  special  manifestations 
of  beaut  v.  So  much  also  remains  to  be  done  in  their 
ecological  study  that  even  a  few  accurate  observations 
contribute  to  further  pi'ogress,  especially  in  regard  to 
altitude  and  climate.  In  tliis  si)irit  a  short  list  is  submitted 
showing  the  range  at  which  the  chief  species  occur  in  the 
area  recently  visited,  so  far  as  represented  in  these 
gatherings,  and  this  can  be  compared  with  data  furnished 
by    other    collectors    [vide    "  Collection,    Taxonomy     and 


122 


The  Irish  Naluralist. 


Decembei . 


Ecology  of  the  Sphagna,"  by  J.  A.  Wheldon,  F.L.S.,  in 
"  Lancashire  and  Cheshire  NaturaHst,"  191 S). 


S.  fimbriatum 
S.  Girgensohnii 
S.  quinquefarium 
S.  pkimnlosum 
S.  squarrosum 
vS.  amblyphylhim 
S.  recur vuni 
S.  cuspidatum 
S.  molhiscum 
S.  inundatum 
S.  auriciilatum 
S.  aqiiatile   . . 
S.  rnfescens 
S.  papillosum 
S.  cvmbifolium 


200    feet 

600 

1,000-1,350 

300-1,300 

400  -    700 

500  -    700 

1,000-1,350 

1,000 

1,000 

700-1,350 

300-1,200 

700-1,300 

1,100-1,200 

200-1,350 

500  -    700 


As  on  previous  occasions  I  am  under  deep  obligations 
to  Mr.  J.  A.  Wheldon,  M.Sc,  who  readily  imdertook  the 
determination  of  the  specimens.  Records  marked  with  an 
asterisk  cannot  be  traced  in  previous  Irish  lists  ;  those 
with  a  dagger  appear  to  be  additions  to  Wickiow  (Division 
20). 

S.  fimhriatum  Wils.,   ]ydi\'.  validuis  Card.,  f .  cofiipadum  W. 
>.  Girgensohnii  Russ.,  *var.   robitstum  W.,  f.   speciositm. 
S.  quinquefarium    W.,  var.  rosenm   W.,    |f.    hrachyano- 
cladimi  W. 

var.  versicolor  Russ.,  jf.  heterocladmn  W. 
ff.  drepanocladum  W. 
S.  plumulosum  Roll.,  var.  viride  W.,   ff.  laxum  W. 

fvar.  purpiireum  ^^^,  f.  gracile  W. 
S.  squarrosum  Pers.,    jvar.  spectahile  Russ.,  f .  paiuhtni  \\\ 
fvar.  suhsquarrosmn  Russ  ap  \\ .,  i.   cuspidatum  W. 
5.    amhlyphyllum     Russ.,     fvar.     mesophyllum    W.,     f. 
sylvaticum  Russ. 

jvar.  parviflorum  W.,  *f.  Inghami  Wheldon. 
5.    recurvum     P   de     Beauv.,   var.     majtis    Angstr.,    ff. 
sylvaticum  Russ. 

ff.  pulchellum  W. 

jf.  sphaerocephalum  W. 


1923.  Lee. — Irish  Sphagna. 


12 


o 


S.   cuspidatum    Ehrh.,     fvar.     suhmersum    Schimp.,   f. 
crispatinn  W. 

S.  moUiiscuni  Brucli.,    jvar.    vulgatum  \V.,  f.  compadum 
W. 

5.  inmidatuni  R.  ct  W.,  var.  ovalijolitnn  W.,  ff.   brachv- 
c  I  ad  I  in  I  W. 

yf.  dcnsuni  W. 
S.  auyiculatiDii    Schimp.,  var.  ovatitin  \\ .,  tf.    rarici^a/iaii 
W. 

jf.  puugens  W. 
*var.  subjuersuin  W. 
S.  papillosum  Liiidb.,  var.  nonnalc  W.,   |f.  inajiis  Grav. 
(near  iub-f.  elegaus  Wheldon). 

jsub-l.  elegans  \A'heldon. 

fsub-f.    subfuscum   Wheldon.        (an    orthocladc 
example). 

f.  squarrosulum  Ingh.  and  Whcld.     (sub  f.  near 
pulcherrimum  Ingh.  and  \\'lK']d.). 

jsub-f.  negledum  Ingh.  and  Whcld. 
f.  brachycladinn  W.       (approaching  sub-f. 
pallesceiis  Wheld.). 

jsub-f.  flavofiiscum  Wheld. 

f.  conferium  ^^'.     (near  snb-f.  inundatii'm  Whcld.). 
var.  siiblaeve  Limpr.,  ff.  glaucovirens  Schlieph. 

ff.  breviramosum  W.     snb-f.  heterocladmn  W. 
5.  cymbifolium   Ehrh.,  fvar.  glaiicesccns  W.,  f.    squarro- 
stiliim  Pers.,  sub-f.  globiceps  W. 

fvar.  pallescens  W\,  f.  laxuni  W. 
fvar.  f'uscescens  W\ 

•fvar.  versicolor  W .  (a  very  robust  form  resembling 
5.  subbicoloy  Hampe.,  but  with  the  chlorophyllosc  cells 
in  section  like  those  of  S.  cynnbijolinin.     J.  A.  W.). 

Kock  Tfrrx-,   Cheshire. 


S 


124  '^^^^  Irish  Naturalist.  DcceiuocM-. 


REVIEWS. 

The  Ice  Age  in  the  North. 

The  Glaciation  of  North-eastern  Ireland.  By  Major  Arthur  Richard 
DwERRYHOUSE,  T.D.,  D.S.O.,  M.R.I.A.,  F.G.S.  Quart.  Jouni. 
Geol.  Soc,  Ixxix,  part  3  (1923),  pp.  352-422,  plates  xxiii-xxiv. 

This  is  a  paper  which  should  receive  the  careful  attention  of  all  students 
interested  in  the  study  of  the  Pleistocene  glaciation  of  Ireland.  It  deals 
with  the  advances,  retreats,  and  re-advances  of  the  Scottish  and  Donegal 
ice-sheets  over  a  wide  tract  of  country  in  north-eastern  Ireland  ;  and 
as  it  is,  in  Ireland,  the  first  published  study,  on  modern  lines,  of  the 
effects  of  glaciation  on  a  large  scale,  it  is  most  welcome.  As  the 
publication  of  Major  Dwerryhouse's  work  has  been  greatly  delayed,  its 
belated  appearance  is  the  more  to  be  appreciated,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  in  the  near  future  we  may  have  the  advantage  also  of  knowing  the 
results  of  Prof.  Charlesworth's  investigations  regarding  the  glaciation  of 
the  north-west  of  Ireland,  results  which,  we  understand,  have  been  ready 
for  publication  for  some  years  past.  By  combining  the  conclusions  of 
two  specialists  in  Glacial  phenomena,  in  these  neighbouring  areas,  we 
should  obtain  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  succession  of  events  during 
the  Ice  Age  in  the  North  of  Ireland. 

The  region  described  by  the  author  includes  the  counties  of  Antrim 
and  Down,  with  parts  of  Londonderry,  Tyrone,  Armagh,  Monaghan, 
and  Louth,  and  this  large  area  has  been  divided  into  what  he  considers 
to  be  four  natural  geographical  units^ — the  basaltic  plateau  of  Antrim, 
the  valley  of  Belfast,  the  Palaeozoic  countr}^  of  Down  and  Monaghan, 
and  the  igneous  districts  of  Mourne,  Slieve  Croob,  and  Carlingford. 
Taking  these  areas  in  succession,  the  various  Glacial  deposits,  and  other 
results  of  the  advances  and  retreats  of  the  ice-sheets,  are  dealt  with,  and 
the  boulder-clays,  gravels  and  sands,  and  Glacial  drainage  channels  are 
described  in  such  detail  that  only  a  few  salient  points  can  be  mentioned. 
In  his  work  on  the  Glacial  deposits  of  his  district,  whether  boulder-clays 
or  gravels  and  sands,  the  author  has  one  outstanding  advantage,  in  that 
there  are  many  very  definite  rock-types  which  can  be  identified  as  occurrinii; 
in  situ  in  the  Firth  of  Clyde.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the 
riebeckite-eurite  of  Ailsa  Craig,  the  granite  of  Goatfell,  and  the  quartz- 
porphyry  of  Drummadoon  ;  and  the  discovery  of  any  of  these  in  the 
drifts  to  the  southward  is  fair  proof  of  the  original  northern  origin  of  the 
deposit  in  question.  Where  a  suite  of  these  northern  rocks  is  found 
any  lingering  doubt  may  be  set  aside.  The  author  mentions  a  recent 
discovery  by  Mr.  Robert  Bell  of  the  Ailsa  Craig  eurite  at  Drumanewy  some 
miles  west  of  Randalstown,  and  rocks  of  the  same  type  have  been  found 
as  far  south  as  Monaghan  town.  In  the  account  of  the  Ballycastle 
district   the  author   gives    an     interesting   description   of    the  terminal 


192  3-  Reviei£>s.  12-j 

moraines  of  the  last  advance  of  the  Scottish  ice,  and  also  of  the  j^ravel 
terraces  of  the  Carey  River,  a  more  detailed  account  of  whicli  will  be 
found  in  the  forthcoming  Survey  Memoir  on  the  I^allycastlc  district. 
The  description  of  the  frontal  moraines  of  the  Donegal  ice-sheet  in  the 
]")ungannon-Cookstown  area  standing  "  rank  behind  rank  for  several 
miles  "  is  so  striking  that  one  would  wish  that  the  subject  had  been 
dealt  with  at  greater  length  b\'  the  author. 

In  addition  to  his  work  on  the  drifts  and  their  included  erratics,  Major 
Dwerryhouse  has  made  a  special  study  of  the  temporary  lakes  of  late 
Glacial  times,  and  their  accompanying  and  resultant  overflow  or  drainage 
channels.  While  the  ice-sheets,  which  had  invaded  north-eastern  Ireland 
either  from  the  north  or  from  the  west,  retreated  towards  their  sources, 
temporary  lakes  were  formed  by  the  water  from  the  melting  ice  being 
impounded  between  the  slopes  of  the  hills  and  the  ice-sheets,  and  when 
the  water  of  these  lakes  could  find  its  way  over  a  col  or  along  the  hillside 
towards  ice-free  country,  it  rapidly  cut  a  ravine  or  overflow  channel  to 
the  extent  of  its  powers  of  erosion.  With  a  farther  retreat  of  the  ice, 
ways  of  escape  at  lower  levels  were  opened,  the  level  of  the  water  in  the 
lake  fell,  and  the  temporary  drainage  channel  was  then  abandoned.  In 
any  mountainous  country  which  has  been  invaded  by  an  ice-sheet  these 
temporary  drainage  channels  and  hill-side  gashes  occur  in  great  numbers, 
and  we  are  introduced  to  some  hundreds  of  them  in  the  course  of  the 
paper,  which  is  effectively  illustrated  by  many  figures  and  plates  dealing 
with  this  interesting  type  of  temporary  erosion.  Jn  the  Ballycastle 
district  Major  Dwerryhouse  has  mapped  some  striking  examples  of  these 
drainage  channels.  When  the  seaward  end  of  Glendun  was  tilled  with 
Scottish  ice,  the  waters  of  the  lake  which  had  been  formed  in  tlie  upper 
portions  of  the  valley  could  only  escape  towards  the  north  by  the 
comparatively  ice-free  valley  of  the  Carey  river,  and  the  main  road  from 
Cushendun  to  Ballycastle  now  runs  along  the  floor  of  the  drainage  channel 
which  the  outflowing  waters  of  the  lake  had  cut  into  the  lowest  portion 
of  the  ridge  which  separates  Glendun  from  the  lowlands  south  of  Ball\- 
castle.  Another  great  drainage  channel  in  this  district  is  the  Invcr 
gorge,  which  carried  away  to  the  south-west  the  overflow  waters  from 
the  lakes  which  had  been  formed  to  the  east  and  south-east  of  Knocklayd. 
In  the  Slieve  Gallion  district  the  author  has  noted  the  very  striking  glens 
of  Carndaisy  and  Gortanewry  which  he  considers  to  be  the  drainage 
channels  that  carried  the  overflow  of  the  temporary  lakes  of  this  district 
eastward  and  northward  towards  the  valley  of  the  Bann. 

The  Mourne  Mountains  have  also  yielded  instances  of  these  channels, 
and  in  the  deep  flat-floored  narrow  valley  which  connects  Portadown 
with  the  head  of  Carlingford  :Major  Dwerryhouse  sees  the  drainage 
channel  of  the  Lough  Xeagh  basin  during  the  time  when  the  presence 
of  the  Scottish  ice  south  of  Coleraine  prevented  the  escape  of  the  waters 
of  that  basin  towards  the  north.  In  Carlingford  many  drainage  channels 
have  been  mapped,  the  most  important  being  that  which  carried  the 
overflow  water  of  the  Jenkinstown  (glacial)  lake  into  Glenmore.  There 
are  numerous  channels  on  the  slopes  of  Barnavave  and  Slieve-na-glogh 


126  The  Irish  Naturalist.  December, 

which  the  author  deals  with  in  the  text,  and  of  these  the  gorge  north 
of  The  Bush  station  is  probably  the  most  important. 

Regarding  the  view,  put  forward  in  Figure  12  of  the  paper,  that  the 
general  direction  of  movement  of  the  Scottish  ice  across  the  Mourne 
Mountains  and  across  the  lowlands  of  Mourne  around  Kilkeel  was  from 
north  to  south  or  south-east,  a  word  of  criticism  may  be  made.  That 
the  lowlands  of  Mourne  are  cumbered  with  immense  Glacial  deposits  of 
boulders,  gravel,  sand  and  clay,  derived  from  the  mountains  to  the  north, 
cannot  be  gainsaid,  and  these  deposits  may  have  been  incorporated  in 
the  Scottish  ice  as  it  moved  southwards  across  the  Mourne  Mountains, 
and  may  afterwards  have  been  deposited  in  the  lowlands.  But  an  earlier 
invasion  of  the  lowlands  of  Mourne  by  Scottish  or  Irish  Sea  ice  is  evidenced 
by  the  occurrence  of  a  basal  boulder-clay,  with  marine  shells,  around 
Kilkeel,  and  in  the  valley  of  the  White  Water.  In  this  basal  boulder- 
clay,  and  in  derived  gravels,  the  reviewer,  in  recent  inonths,  found  marine 
shells  in  great  abundance,  in  many  cases  in  an  excellent  state  of 
preservation,  and  up  to  the  present  fifteen  species  have  been  obtained, 
including  the  usual  proportion  of  arctic  and  northern  forms.  This 
investigation  into  the  distribution  of  the  shelly  drift  is  being  carried 
out  with  the  aid  of  a  government  grant  in  the  gift  of  the  Royal  Society 
of  London,  and  Major  Dwerryhouse's  paper  had  already  been  completed 
when  the  work  in  the  lowlands  of  Mourne  was  commenced  during  1923. 
The  facts  which  have  been  stated  point  to  the  conclusion  that  when  the 
Scottish  ice  rounded  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Mourne  Mountains  near 
Annalong,  it  moved  inland  and  south-westward  across  the  lowlands  of 
Mourne,  laying  down  the  basal  boulder-clay  with  its  marine  shells.  That 
the  Scottish  ice  moved  inland  from  the  direction  of  the  Irish  Sea,  across 
the  lowlands  of  Carlingford,  and  the  country  south  of  Dundalk,  is  also 
the  opinion  of  the  reviewer,  although  an  examination  of  the  Glacial 
deposits  of  Cooley  has,  up  to  the  present,  yielded  no  satisfactory  evidence 
of  the  presence  of  shelly  boulder-clay  similar  to  that  found  in  the  Kilkeel 
lowlands. 

But  the  paper  must  be  read  in  its  entirety  to  be  fully  appreciated, 
as  there  is  a  great  amount  of  valuable  detail  which  cannot  be  summarized. 
We  may  congratulate  Major  Dwerryhouse  on  the  publication  of  a  very 
notable  contribution  to  the  study  of  the  Glacial  geology  of  Ireland. 

J.    DE    W.    HiNCH. 


1923.  Reviews,  127 

A  Chronological  List  of  British  Birds. 

A  Bibliography  of  British  Ornithology  from  the  Earliest  Times  : 
Supplement.  A  Chronological  List  of  British  Birds.  By  H. 
KiRKE  Swann,  F.Z.S.,  etc,  London  (Witherby  and  Wesley,  Ltd.). 
Price  5s,  net. 

By  way  of  supplement  to  the  important  "  Bibliography  of  British 
Ornithology  "  which,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  W.  H.  Mullen  and  Rev. 
F.  C.  R.  Jourdain,  he  produced  in  1920,  Mr.  Swann  now  publishes  a  highly 
interesting  list  of  the  birds  of  the  British  Islands  arranged  in  the  order 
in  which  they  first  received  names  in  accordance  with  the  Linnean 
system.  The  names  given  in  the  list  are  those  that  belong  to  the  birds 
to-day,  brackets  being  used  to  distinguish  those  parts  of  each  binomial 
(or  trinomial)  name  that  were  not  in  the  name  when  first  applied.  The 
preface  must  be  carefully  read  for  the  meaning  of  the  various  brackets 
used  ;  but  the  list  undoubtedly  gives  us  an  excellent  bird's-eye  view  of 
the  progress  of  ornithological  nomenclature  from  1758  to  the  present 
day.  Some  curious  results  are  brought  out  from  a  glance  over  Mr, 
Swann's  pages.  One  cannot  but  be  struck  at  the  slowness  with  which 
some  now  familiar  birds  crept  into  the  notice  of  scientific  name-givers. 
Thus  it  was  not  until  181 7  that  the  Chiff-chaff  was  recognised  and  honoured 
with  a  binomial  name,  though  we  know  from  Gilbert  White,  who  died  in 
1793,  that  it  was  already  well  known  by  its  present  English  name  of 
the  "  Chiff-chaf  "  to  the  country-folk  around  Selborne  in  his  day.  One 
does  not,  of  course,  need  to  go  to  Mr.  Swann  to  learn  facts  like  these. 


but  his  arrangement  does  much  to  force  them  on  one's  notice. 


C.  B,  M. 


IRISH    SOCIETIES. 

BELFAST  NATURAL    HISTORY    AND    PHILOSOPHICAL 

SOCIETY. 

September  17. — Annual  Meeting.  Professor  W.  B.  Morton,  M.A., 
presided.  The  annual  report  of  the  Council  expressed  regret  at  the  death 
during  the  year  of  three  honoured  members  of  the  society  : — Henry  Riddell, 
M.E.,  M.I.Mech.E.  (president  and  hon.  treasurer)  ;  Joseph  Wright,  F.G.S.  ; 
and  Madame  Christen,  who  died  at  Llandudno.  It  was  also  intimated 
that  a  few  members  had  had  a  small  water-colour  portrait  of  Mr.  Riddell 
executed  by  Mr.  Frank  M'Kelvey,  and  they  now  asked  the  chairman  to 
accept  the  portrait  on  behalf  of  the  Society  as  a  small  token  of  their  appre- 
ciation. The  report  went  on  to  state  that  W.  B.  Burro wes,  F.R.S.A.I., 
had  taken  over  the  duties  of  hon.  treasurer,  and  thanks  were  accorded 
him  for  his  work.  There  had  been  a  steady  increase  in  membership  under 
the  new  subscription  scheme.  Lectures  given  during  the  session  had 
been  well  attended  and  were  much  appreciated.   The  Council  was  of  opinion 


128  The  Irish  Naturalist.  December,  1923. 

that  the  Society  should  again  become  a  member  of  the  British  Association, 
and  appointed  Mr,  AUworthy  to  represent  the  Society  at  the  meeting  in 
Liverpool.  The  report  also  referred  to  the  work  of  the  archaeological 
section  at  Nendrum  Monastery,  Mahee  Island,  and  said  that  the  chairman 
(Sir  Charles  Brett)  and  hon,  secretary  (Mr.  Lawlor)  and  those  associated 
with  them  deserved  the  thanks  of  Ulster  for  the  work  which  was  being 
carried  out. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Council,  Professor  Morton  was  unani- 
mously elected  President  of  the  Society  for  the  coming  session.  W.  B. 
Burrowes  was  re-elected  hon.  treasurer;  R.  M.  Young,  M.R.I. A.  hon. 
librarian  ;    and  Arthur  Deane,  F.R.S.E.,  hon.  secretary. 


BELFAST  NATURALISTS'  FIELD  CLUB. 

Sept,  29. — Fifty-seven  members  and  friends  visited  Purdysburn  Glen, 
under  the  guidance  of  Arthur  Deane,  M.R.I. A.,  F.R.S.E.,  in  order  to 
study  the  fungus  flora. 

On  reaching  the  woods  Mr.  Deane  gave  a  short  account  of  the  life- 
history  of  fungi  and  their  place  in  nature's  economy  ;  how  the  older 
and  more  primitive  types  were  aquatic  in  habitat,  and  showed  the 
characters  of  the  algae  from  which  they  are  regarded  as  having  descended. 

Many  members  collected  keenly,  and  some  interesting  species  of 
fungi  were  found,  particularly  among  the  gill-bearing  class,  such  as 
Hypholoma  fascicularis,  Coprinus  spp.,  Pholiota  squarrosa,  Pleurotus 
ostreaius,  Armillaria  mellea,  and  Amanita  muscaria,  while  among  the 
decaying  bracken  was  found  the  "  Birds  Nest  "  fungus  (Crucibulum 
vulgare),  but  perhaps  the  most  interesting  were  the  Slime-fungi 
(Myxomycetes),  a  specially  large  mass  being    found  in   the  woods. 

On  reaching  an  open  glade  at  the  glen  head,  an  examination  of  many 
finds  was  made,  and  a  business  meeting  was  held  (Rev.  W.  R.  Megaw, 
B.A.,    presiding),    when    eleven   new   members   were   elected. 


ROUTE  NATURALISTS'  FIELD  CLUB. 

August  ii. — Excursion  to  Runkerry — The  members  met  at  Run- 
kerry  House,  about  two  dozen  strong,  and  made  for  the  strand.  Here, 
amid  a  convenient  circle  of  rocks,  the  Secretary  read  some  notes  furnished 
by  R.  J.  Welch,  M.Sc,  on  the  geology  and  zoology  of  the  district. 

An  adjournment  w£is  made  to  Runkerry  House,  where  tea  was  pro- 
vided through  the  kindness  of  the  Misses  Macnaghten,  after  which  a  talk 
illustrated  by  many  drawings  and  sketches,  was  given  by  Mr.  J,  J.  Phillips, 
C.E.,  Dhu  Varren,  Portrush,  on  the  ancient  Cistercian  Abbeys  of  Down. 

September  15. — A  visit  was  paid  to  the  ruins  of  Dunseverick  Castle. 
Its  history  was  dealt  with  in  a  paper  by  Canon  Ford,  read  to  the  members 
on  the  historic  site  by  the  secretary,  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Guraley. 


Pvf 


wywff*:^^ 

igya 

MmgjMM 

i         JANUARY, 

No.  1.    HE 

1923. 

CUVMK 


fl    flDontbl?    3ounial 

OF 

GENERAL  IRISH   NATURAL  HISTORY. 

ORGAN    OF    THE 

ROYAL    ZOOLOGICAL    SOCIETY    OF    IRELAND 

DUBLIN     MICROSCOPICAL    CLUB, 

BELFAST  NATURAL  HISTORY  8c  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY, 

BELFAST    NATURALISTS'    FIELD    CLUB, 

DUBLIN     NATURALISTS'  FIELD    CLUB, 

CORK    NATURALISTS'    FIELD    CLUB, 

TYRONE    NATURALISTS'    FIELD    CLUB 

EDITED    BY 

R.    LLOYD    PRAEGER,    B.E.,    D.Sc,    M.R.I.A., 
C.    B.    MOFFAT,    B.A.,    M.R.I.A., 

AND 

ROBERT   J.    WELCH,    M.R.LA. 

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A  Monthly  Illustrated  Journal  of 

NATURAL    HISTORY    FOR    THE    NORTH    OF    ENGLAND. 

EDITED  BY 
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The  Museum,  Hull  : 

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ROYAL  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF  IRELAND. 

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PAm    OF    HANDSOME    LION    MARMOSETS- 
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PAIR    OF    CANADIAN    BISON,    WITH    CALVES. 
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DEPAKTMENT     OF     AGIilCULTUEE    AND    TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCTION    FOR    IRELAND. 


LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


No.  1. 


,}  3. 

„  4. 

,  5. 

„  6. 

M  7. 

»  3 

,,  fl 

„  10. 

..  11. 

.  12. 

»  13. 

:,  14. 

„  Id. 

.,  16. 

„  17. 

„  18. 

„  19. 

„  20. 

"  ^i 

„  23 

,.  24. 


„  2.5. 

.,  26. 

»  27. 

„  28. 

„  29 

„  30. 

,,  31. 

„  32. 

.,  33 

„  34. 

„  35. 

„  36 

»  37. 

„  38 

,,  39. 

„  40 

„  41 

„  42. 

„  43. 

„  44 

„  45. 

„  46 

..  47. 

,,  48 

„  49. 

„  50 

„  51 

„  52 


The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use     and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

StufTs. 
Foot    Rot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot   Disease    or    Blight, 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Titnolhv  Meadows. 
The  Turnip  Fly. 
Wireworrus. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Cout.'idous  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  oi  Potato  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and  Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  GroAving. 
Calf  Rearing. 

Di^ca.^es  of  Poultry  : — Gapes- 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Feeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg,    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
V/inter  Egg  Production. 
Rearina  and  Fattening  of  Turkeys 
Profitable  Ere?d8  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments — Barley. 

„  „  Meadow  Hay 

„  „  Potatoes. 

,.  .,  Mangels. 

Oats. 

,,  ,,  Turnips 

Permanent  Pasture  Gr-igges 
The    Rearing    and    Management    of 

Chickens 


"Husk"   or 


Boose  "  in   Calves. 


Ringworm  on  Cattle 
Havmaking. 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Pest. 
Poultry  Fattening. 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-Jacket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


»<o. 

53 

»9 

54 

99 

55 

56 

} 

•oi 

91 

58 

»9 

59 

>l 

60 

9» 

61 

93 

62 

99 

m 

)9 

64 

»9 

65 

>9 

66 

99 

67 

99 

68 

99 

69 

,.     70. 


71. 
72. 
73. 

74. 

75 

76. 

77. 

78. 

79. 

80. 

81. 

82. 

83. 

84. 

85. 

86. 

87. 

88. 

89.. 

90. 

91. 

92. 

93. 

94. 

95. 

96. 
97. 
98. 
99. 


The    Construction    of   a   Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

Tlie  Apule. 

Cultivation    of   the    Root  Crop 

Marketing  of  Fruit 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Out  oj  Print. 

Field  Experiments — Wheat. 

The  Management  of  Dairv  Cows. 

"  Eed  water  "   or    "  Blood -Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :      The  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The   Proper  Method  of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Out  of  Prvit. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention   of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and      Preservation    of    Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedgerow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Planting   and  Management  of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common     Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Wasting  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking. 
The    Cultivation    of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato  Culture  on   Small   Farms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    Injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
The  Home  iJottliug  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoes. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,   Bacon,  and 

Egg:?. 

Packing  Egg."  for  Hatching. 

Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 

Seaweed  a=  Manure. 


SPECIAL    LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  of  Farm  Pests. 

12.  Digging  and  Strring  of  Potatoes 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  ol  "Vegetables. 

19.  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  Farmers  and  Income  Tax. 
23.  Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
Secretary,  Department  of  Agriculture  and  'technical  Instruction  for  Ireland.  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
Dublin,  Letters  of  application  so  addressed  need  not  be  stamped.  Envelopes  should  be  marked 
"  Publications." 


TO  SUBSCRIBERS  15s.  Od.  PER  ANNUM,  POST  FREE. 


THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

A   MONTHLY   MAGAZINE, 

EDITED    BY 

JAMES  RITCHIE,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  F.R  S.E..  F.L.S., 
Keeper.  National  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Musettm,  Edinburgh^ 

PERCY  H.  GRIMSHAWJ   F.R.S.F., 
Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum, 


This  Magazine — founded  in  1871 — is  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Original  Matter  relating  to  the 
Natural  Historj'  of  Scotland,  and  includes  Papers  contributing  to  the  elucidation  of  the  Fauna, 
Observations  on  Life  Histories,  etc.,  and  Notes  recording  tlie  occurrence  of  uncorataon  specie:*  and 
other  useful  and  interesting  facts. 


Edinburgh  :    OLIVER    &.    BOYD,    Tweeddale    Court 


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Vol.  xxxii.,  No.  1. 


CONTENTS 


January,  1925. 


PAGE 


•  • 


The  Sleeping  Habits  of  the  Tree-Creeper  (Plate  I.)— N.  H. 

Foster,  .F.L.S.,  M.B.o.u.  •  .. 
To  Readers  of  the  7m^  Naturalist— Pi oi.  G.  H.  Carpenter, 

D.SC.  •>  ...  ,••  -••  ••  •• 

Irish  Societies  : 

Belfast  Natural  History  and  Philosophical  Society 
Belfast  Naturalists'  Field  Club 

Notes  : 

Greenland  Wheatear  in  Co.  Derry — N.  H.  Foster 
Egg  of  Fulmar  Petrel — N.  H.  Foster 
Birds  at  the  Tearaght  Lighthouse — A;  J.   Kennedy 
Kingfisher  at  Blackrock,  Co.  Dublin — H.  W.  Doveton-Duni.op 
Stock-Dove  breeding  in  Co.  Londonderry — D.  C.  Campbell 
Thracia   pubescens    near   Dublin — John  A.    S.   Palmer,    R.    Lloyd 
Praeger  , .  . .  . .  .  . 


•  • 


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7 
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7 

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Vol.  xxxii.,  No.  2. 


February,  1923. 


CONTENTS. 

A  Fortnight's  Entomology  in  Co.    Waterford — Oliver  E. 
Janson  and  L.  H.  Bonaparte  Wyse         . .  . . 


PAGE 


EVIEW  ; 

Gilchrist    and   Bonde's  Practical  Zoology    for    Medical  and    Junior 
Students  .  . 


News  Gleanings 


i8 


i8 


Notes  : 

Shakespeare's  "  Scamel  " — ^E.  A.  Armstrong,  C.  B.  Moffat 


19 


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PAIR     OF    HANLSOME    LION    MARMOSETS. 

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DEPARTMENT     OF     AGIilCULTURE    AND    TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCTION    FOR    IRELAND. 


LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


^0. 

1. 

>> 

2. 

J> 

3. 

>> 

4. 

5. 

»l 

6. 

»» 

7. 

»» 

8 

>) 

9. 

»» 

10. 

■  • 

11. 

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12. 

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13. 

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14. 

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15. 

16. 

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17. 

1> 

18. 

19. 

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20. 

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21 

M 

22. 

23 

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24. 

25. 

26. 

f  1 

27. 

» 

28. 

»» 

29 

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30. 

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31. 

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32. 

33 

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34. 

35. 

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37. 

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39. 

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41 

»» 

42. 

>> 

43. 

44 

11 

45. 

46 

•1 

47. 

11 

48 

11 

49. 

60 

»» 

51 

>> 

52 

The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use    and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Stuffs. 
Foot   Rot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot    Disease    or    Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Tiraotbv  Meadows 
Th"  Turnip  Fly. 
Wireworriis. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contaeious  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  ox  Potato  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Sc.ib. 

The   Use  and  Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Rearing. 

Diseases  of  Poultry  : — Gapes. 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Choleffi. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Feeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg,    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Potdtry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Egg  Production. 
Rearing  and  F.attening  of  Turkeys 
Profitable  lire  ds  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments  -Barley. 

„  „  Meadow  Hay 

„  „  Potatoes. 

,.  .,  Mangels. 

Oats. 

,,  ,,  Turnips 

Permanent  Pasture  Gr^Bses 
The    Rearinc    and    Management    of 

Chickens 
"  Husk  "   or  '•  Hoose  "   in   Calves. 
Eingworm  on  Cattle 
Haymaking. 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Pest, 
Poultry  Faf^enlng. 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-Jacket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


No. 

53. 

f) 

54. 

» 

55. 

»j 

56. 

9' 

57. 

fi 

58. 

» 

59. 

>t 

60 

>9 

61. 

99 

62. 

99 

63. 

»9 

64 

19 

65. 

f  9 

66. 

99 

67 

99 

68 

99 

69 

i» 

70, 

>» 

71 

99 

72 

99 

73. 

»» 

74 

99 

75 

99 

76. 

99 

77 

99 

78 

»9 

79. 

80. 

99 

8L 

99 

82. 

99 

83. 

99 

84 

99 

85 

99 

86 

>9 

87. 

99 

88 

99 

89 

99 

90 

99 

91 

99 

92 

99 

93 

99 

94 

9» 

95 

9> 

96 

99 

97. 

99 

98 

99 

99 

The    Construction    of   a    Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

The  Apple. 

Cultivation    of    the    Root   Crop 

Marketing  of  Fruit. 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Out  oj  Print, 

Field  Experiments — Wheat. 

The  Management  of  Dairy  Cows. 

"  Eedwater  "   or   "  Blood-Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :     The  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The  Proper  Method  of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Oil  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention  of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and     Preservation    of   Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedgerow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Planting   and   Management  of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common     Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Wasting  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking. 
The    Cultivation   of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato   Culture  on   Small   Farms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    Injnrioua    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
The  Home  Bottling  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoe.«. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,  Bacon,  and 

Eggs. 
Packing  Egg?  lor  Hatching. 
Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  as  Manure. 


SPECIAL    LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  of  Farm  Pests. 

12.  Digging  and  Storing  of  Potatoes. 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19.  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  Farmers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Potato. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
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Keeper,  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh, 

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Observations  on  Life  Histories,  etc.,  and  Notes  recording  the  occurrence  of  uncommon  species  and 
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R.    Lloyd    Praeger, 

National  Library,  Dublin, 

C,    B.    Moffat, 

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R.    J.    Welch, 

49  Lonsdale  Street,  Belfast. 


Vol.  xxxiii.,  No.  3. 


March,  1923. 


CONTENTS. 


The   Study  of  Common  Wild  Flowers:  A    plea    for  closer 
•    Investigation— C.  B.  Moffat,  b.a.,  m.r.i.a. 

Irish  Sphagna— William  Lee 


*  • 


Irish  Societies  ;        , 

Dublin  Microscopical  Club     , .  . .       ...  . .       '        .  • 

Belfast  Naturalists'  Field  Club 

Notes  : 

Sleeping  Habits  of  the  Tree-Creeper — C,   B.  Moffat 

Sandwich  Terms  at  Rosslare,  Co.  Wexford— W.  M.  Abbott 

Recent  Records  of  Irish  Birds  .  » 

Colour-Variation,  in  Cowslip  and  Primrose — R.  Lloyd  Praeger    .  . 

Erica  stricta  in  Antrim  and  Derry — R.  Lloyd  Praeger 


PAGE 

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28 


29 
29 

30 
30 
31 
31 
32 


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LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


No.  1. 


)> 

3. 

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4. 

5. 

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43. 

44 

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45. 

11 

46 

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47. 

48 

49. 

11 

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51 

j> 

52 

The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use     and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Studs. 
Foot    Rot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot    Disease    or    Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  io  Sheep. 
Tiraotbv  Meadows 
The  Turnip  Fly. 
Wirewortns. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contacioas  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  oi  Potato  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and  Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Rearmg. 

Di^^ cases  of  Poultry  : — Gapes- 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Ff^eding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg,    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Egg  Production. 
Rearing  and  Fattening  of  Turkeys 
Profita])le  Bre?ds  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments — Barley. 

„  „  Meadow  ITay 

„  „  Potatoes 

,.  .,  Mangels. 

,,  „  Oats. 

,,  ,.  Turnips 

Pernjanent  Pasture  Greases 
The    Rearing    and    Management    of 

Chiekens 
••  Husk  "   or   "  Hoo5e  "   in   Calves. 
Ringworm  on  Cattle 
Haymaking. 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Peat. 
Poultry  Faf^ening 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-Jacket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


No.  53. 


»1 

55 

»» 

56 

f ' 

57 

If 

58 

»> 

59 

11 

60 

»1 

61 

1> 

62 

99 

63 

>> 

64 

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65 

>> 

66 

>1 

67 

>1 

68 

91 

69 

70. 


71 

72 

73. 

74 

75 

76. 

77 

78 

79. 

80 

81. 

82 

83 

84 

8o 

86 

87 

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

98 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

The    Construction    of   a    Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

The  Apple. 

Cultivation    of   the    Root  Crop 

Marketing  of  Fruit. 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Out  Oj  Print. 

Field  Experiments — Wheat. 

The  Management  of  Dairy  Cows. 

"Eedwater"   or   "  Blood -Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :     The  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The   Proper  Method  of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention   of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and     Preservation    of   Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedgerow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Planting   and   Management  of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common     Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Wasting  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking. 
The    Cultivation    of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato   Culture  on   Small   Farms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    Injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
The  Home  Bottling  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoes. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,   Bacon,  and 

Eggs. 
Packing  Egg?  for  Hatcliing. 
Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  a«  Manure. 


SPECIAL    LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  or  Farm  Pests. 

12.  Digging  and  Storing  of  Potatoes. 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19.  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  Farmers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Potato. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  he  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
Secretary,  Department  of  Agrictdture  and  Technical  Instruction  for  Ireland,  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
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"  Publications." 


TO  SUBSCRIBERS  15s.  Od.  PER  ANNUM,  POST  FREE. 


THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 

EDITED   BY 

JAMES  RITCHIE,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  F.R.S.E..  F.L.S., 
Keep»r,  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh, 

PERCY  H.  GRIMSHAWi  F.R.S.F., 
Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum, 


This  Magazine — fouYided  in  1871 — is  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Original  Matter  relating  to  the 
Natural  History  of  Scotland,  and  includes  Papers  contributing  to  the  elucidation  of  the  Fauna, 
Observations  on  Life  ifistories.  etc.,  and  Notes  recording  the  occurrence  of  uncomtjion  Species  acd 
other  useful  and  interesting  facts. 


Edinburgh  :    Of.lVER    &,    BOYD,    Tweeddale    Court 


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R.    J.    Welch, 

49  Lonsdale  Street,  Belfast. 


Vol.  xxxiii.,  No.  4. 


April,  1923. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


Is  the  Squirrel  a  Native  of  Ireland  ?— C.  B.  Moffat,  b.a.  . .        33 
Entomological  Notes  from  Rostrevor— Rev.  W.  F.  Johnson, 

M.A.  .  .  . •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • •  35 


Review  : 

Minerals  of  Economic  Importance — ^R.  Ll.  P.  • .      > 

Notes  :' 

A   Hybrid  Sedge  new  to  Co.  Dublin — A.  W.  Stelfox     . . 

Raven  in  Co. , Wexford — Leslie  Huggard    . . 

Migration  of  Swallows  in  South-east  Wexford — W.  M,  Abbott 

The  ,Macrolepidoptera  of  County  Tyrone — J.  N.  H, 

Early  Breeding  of  Wood  Pigeons — R.  J.  Pack^Beresford 

An  Enemy  of  the  Wireworm — A.  W.  Stelfox 


38 

39 
40 
40 
42 
43 
44 


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H    flDontblu    3ournal 

OF 

GENERAL  IRISH  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

ORGAN    OF    THE 

ROYAL    ZOOLOGICAL    SOCIETY    OF    IRELAND 

DUBLIN     MICROSCOPICAL    CLUB, 

BELFAST  NATURAL  HISTORY  &  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY, 

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NATURAL    HISTORY    FOR    THE    NORTH    OF    ENGLAND. 

EDITED  BY 
T.  SHEPPARD,  M.Sc,  F.G.S.,  F.R.G.S..  F.S.A.,  Scot., 

The  Museum,  Hull  : 

AND 

T.  W.  WOODHEAD,  Ph.D.,  M.Sc,  F.L.S..  Tech.  Coi,l. 

HUDDEBSFIELD. 

WITH    THE    ASSISTANCE    AS    REFEREES    IN    SPECIAL    DEPaRTMKNTS    OP 

GEO.  T.  PORRITT,  F.LS.,  F.E.S.  RILEY  FORTUNE,  F.2.S. 

JOHN  W    TAYLOR,  M.Sc. 

This  Journal  is^one  oi  the  oldest  Scientific   Periodicals  iii  the  British  Isles  daUug  bacK  to  1833 

London:    A.  BROWN  &  SON,   Ltd...  5  FARRIKGDON  AVENUE,  E.C. 
Prepaid  Subscription,  10/6  per  annum,  post  fr<»e 

Communications  to  be  addressed  to  the  Editors  of  the  Natumlist,  The  Museum,  Hull. 


THE  ZOOLOGICAL  GARDENS 

OF  THK 

ROYAL   ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY   OF   IRELAND. 

PKOENiX    PARK,    DUBUN, 

Open  daily  from  9  a-m^  (Sundays  f rem  12  noon) 

till  dissk. 

Admission,     Is.,     except     Wednesdays,     Saturdays,     and 
Holidays,    6d.,    and    Sunday    afternoons,    6d., 
Ctiiiclren  always  Half-price. 

SPECIAL    RATES    FOR    SCHOOL    CHILDREN    AND 

EXCURSION    PARTIES. 

FINEST  COLLECTION  OF  LIONS  IN  EUROPE. 

CHAPMAN'S  ZEBRA  NEWLY  ARRIVED. 
HANDSOME     BLACK    LEOPARD. 

Fine  Young  Chimpanzee  in  the  Ape-House. 

YOUNG      INDIAN       ELEPHANT. 

BISON     AND     ZEBUS,     WITH    CALVES. 

BROWN,     HIMALAYAN,     AND     POLAR     BEARS. 

TWO    FINE     SOMALI     OSTRICHES. 

KANGAROOS    A^D    WOMBATS 

(Newly  Imported). 

REFRESHMENT     ROOM     OPEPs     ALL     THE     YEAR, 

Donations  of  Animals  (Irish  or  Foreign    thankfully  received. 

Surplus   Stock  of   Beasts    and    Birds    for    Sale   or   Exchange. 

For    particulars,    and    also    for    Terms   and    PrivLlei^es  of    Membershij) 
of  the  Society,  apply  to 

Prof.  A.  Francis  Dixon, 
Hon.  Sec,  R.Z.S,, 

Trinity  College,  Dublin. 


DEPAETMENT     OF     AGRICULTUKE    AND    TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCTION    FOR    IRELAND. 


LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


No.  1. 


9> 

3. 

>3 

4. 

5. 

99 

6. 

»f 

7. 

»» 

8 

t» 

9. 

1» 

10. 

,, 

11. 

12. 

99 

13. 

i9 

U. 

99 

15. 

16. 

1» 

17. 

19 

18. 

1» 

19. 

20. 

»l 

21 

t1 

22. 

11 

23 

>> 

24. 

25. 

26. 

1  ♦ 

27. 

9) 

28. 

9» 

29 

>» 

30. 

11 

31. 

'V? 

91 

•  1 

33 

1) 

34. 

99 

35. 

»» 

36 

91 

37. 

1* 

38 

39. 

T1 

40 

1^ 

41 

«* 

42 

»9 

43. 

44 

1' 

45. 

91 

46 

«| 

47. 

11 

48 

n 

49. 

1 1 

50 

51 

99 

52 

The  Warbh  Fly. 

The     Use     and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Sfcii^fs. 
Foot    Hot   in    Sheep. 
In^nsive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

i^eeping. 
Celerj'    Leaf  Spot   Di.sease    or    BUght. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Sprajung. 
Fluke  in  Sher-p. 
Timotbv  Meadows 
Th^  Turnip  Fly. 
Wirevvortiis. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contaeioas  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  oi  Potato  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and  Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Hearing. 

Diseases  of  Poultry  : — Gapes. 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bidls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Foeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg,    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Ega  Production. 
Hearin.i  and  Fattening  of  Turkeys 
Profitai-le  Breads  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments  -Barley. 

„  „  Meadow  Hay 

„  „  Potatoes. 

,.  „  Mangels. 

Oats. 

,,  ,.  Turnips 

Permanent  Pasture  Gr  iBses 
The    Hearing    ani    Management    of 

Ciilckens 
••  Husk  "    or   "  Hoo?e  *'   in   Calves. 
Ringworm  on  Cattle 
Haymaking. 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Pest. 
Poultry  Faf^ening 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-.Tacket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


No. 


53. 
54. 

55. 

56. 

57. 

58. 

59. 

60 

61. 

62. 

63. 

64 

65. 

66. 

67. 

68, 
69. 

70. 


71 

72 

73. 

74 

75 

76. 

77 

78 

79. 

80. 

8L 

82 

83 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

The    Construction    of   a    Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

The  Apple. 

Cultivation    of    the    Root   Crop 

Marketing  oi  Fruit. 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Oiit  oj  Print. 

Fif.ld  Experiments — Wheat. 

The  Management  of  Dairv  Cows. 

"  Red  water  "   or   "  Blood-Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :     The  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The   Proper  Method  of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Ont  of  Print 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention   of  Tuberculosis  In 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and     Preservation    of   Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedgerow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Prim. 
The   Planting   and   Management  of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common     Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Wasting  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking 
The    Cultivation    of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato   Culture  on   Small   Farms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    Injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
The  Home  T^ottling  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction  of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoes. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,   Bacon,   and 

Eggs. 
Packing  Egg?  for  Hatching. 
Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  a«  Manure. 


SPECIAL    LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  of  Farm  Pests. 

12.  Digging  and  St(  ring  of   I'otatoes.  * 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19,  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  Faimers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Pahn  Nut  Cake  and  Meal, 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mos  tic  Di.seases  of  the  Potato. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the.  above  lea  lifts  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
Secretary , Departwent  of  Agriculture  and  'I'chnical  Instruction  for  Ireland.  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
Dublin.  Letters  of  application  so  addressed  need  not  be  stamped.  Envelopes  should  be  marked 
"  Publications." 


TO  SUBSCRIBERS  15s.  Od,  PER  ANNUM,  POST  FREE. 


THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 

EDITED   BY 

JAMES  RITCHIE,  M.A.,  D.Sc.  F.R  S.E..  F.L.S.. 
Keeper,  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh. 

PERCY  H.  GRIMSHAW,  F.R.S.E., 
Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum, 


This  Mag-azine — founded  in  1871 — is  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Original  Matter  relating  to  the 
Natural  History  of  'Scotland,  and  includes  Papers  contributing  to  the  eli:cidation  of  the  Fauna, 
Observations  on  Life  Histories,  etc.,  and  Notes  recording  the  occurrence  of  uncomraon  species  aod 
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Vol.  xxxiii.,  No.  5. 


May,  1923. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Porotrichum  angustifolium  in  Ireland — H.  N.  Dixon,  f.l.s.  45 

Review: 

Daniel's  Elasmobranch  Fishes^^'-(R.F.S.)         ,.                 ..                ..  47 

OBITtTARY  : 

William    H.  Phillips.     (R.  Ll.  R)                      ,  .                 . .                 . .  48 

Irish  Societies  : 

Ulster  Society  for  the  Protection  of  Birds     .,                ..                 ..  48 

Belfast  Naturalists'    Field  Club       .  .                 . .                 . .                  . .  49 

Dublin  Microscopical  Club                ....                . .                 . .  50 

Notes  : 

The  Squirrel  in  Ireland — Edward  A.  Armstrong         , ,                 . ,  50 

Irish  Breeding  Birds    .  ,                  .  .                 . .                  .  .                  .  .  51 

Early  Arrival  of  the  Chiffchaff  in  Co.  Down — Robert  N.  Morrison, 

Nevin  H.  Foster                   .  .             ...                .  .                . .  51 

Variation  in  Size  of  Eggs  of  Lesser  Tern — F.  W.  Jeffers             ..  52 

Early  Flowers — C.  J.  Lilly,  R.  Li.oyd  Praeger           . .                 .  .  52 


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THE     NATURALIST. 

A  Monthly  Illustrated  Journal  of 

NATURAL    HISTORY    FOR    THE    NORTH    OF    ENGLAND. 

EDITED  BY 
T.  SHEPPARD,  M.Sc,  F.G.S.,  F.R.G.S.,  F.S.A.,  Scot., 

The  Museum,  Hull  : 

AND 

T.  W.  WOODHEAD,  Ph.D.,  M.Sc,  F.L.S.,  Tech.  Coll. 

HUDDERSFIELD. 

WITH   THE    assistance    AS   EEFEEEES   IN   SPECIAL   DEPARTMItNTS    OP 

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This  Journal  is  one  of  the  oldest  Scientific  Periodicals  in  the  British  Isles  dating  back  to  1S33. 
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Prepaid  Subscription,  10/6  per  annum,  post  fr^e 

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THE  ZOOLOGICAL  GARDENS 

OF  THK 

ROYAL  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF   IRELAND. 

PHOENIX    PARK,    DUBLIN. 

Open  daily  from  9  a.m-  {Sundays  from  \2noon) 

tin  dusk. 

Admission,     Is.,     except    Wednesdays,     Saturdays,     and 
Holidays,    6d.,    and    Sunday    aft^^rnoons,    6d., 
Children  always  Half-price. 

SPECIAL    RATES    FOR    SCHOOL    CHILDREN    AND 

EXCURSION    PARTIES, 

FINEST  COLLECTION  OF  LIONS  IN  EUROPE. 

CHAPMAN'S  ZEBRA  NEWLY  ARRIVED. 
HANDSOME    BLACK    LEOPARD. 

Fine  Young  Chimpanzee  in  tlie  Ape-Kouse. 

YOUNG      INDIAN       ELEPHANT. 

BISON     AND    ZEBUS,     WITH    CALVES. 

BROWN,     HIMALAYAN,     AND     POLAR     BEARS. 

TWO    FINE    SOMALI     OSTRICHES. 

KANGAROOS    AND    WOMBATS 

(Newly  Imported). 

REFRESHMENT     ROOM     OPEN     ALL     THE     YEAR. 

Donations  of  Animals  (Irish  op  Foreig-n)  thankfully  received. 

Surplus  Stock  of  Beasts    and    Birds    for    Sale  or  Exchange. 

For   particulars,   and    also   for   Terms  and    Privileges  of   Membership 
of  the  Society,  apply  to — 

Prof.  A.  Franxis  Dixon, 
Hon,  Sec,  R.Z.S., 

Trinity  College,  Dublin. 


DEPARTMENT     OF     AGIUCULTUEE    AND    TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCTION    FOR    IRELAND. 


LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


No. 

1. 

>> 

2. 

» 

3. 

>9 

4. 

« 

5. 

» 

6. 

>I 

7. 

)> 

8 

»> 

9. 

<> 

10. 

•  • 

11. 

} 

12. 

» 

13. 

it 

14. 

» 

15. 

f  J 

16. 

)> 

17. 

)> 

18, 

t> 

19. 

» 

20. 

>> 

21, 

» 

22. 

>> 

23 

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24. 

25. 

26. 

>> 

27. 

» 

28. 

>> 

29 

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30. 

>9 

31. 

91 

32. 

33 

>> 

34. 

9) 

35. 

99 

36 

99 

37. 

)> 

38 

99 

39. 

99 

40 

99 

41 

•  9 

42. 

99 

43. 

99 

44 

45. 

99 

46 

47. 

)9 

48 

99 

49. 

99 

50 

99 

51 

99 

52 

The  W.arble  Fly. 

The     Use    and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Stuffs. 
Foot   Rot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot   Disease    or    Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Timotbv  Meadows 
Th"  Turnip  Fly. 
Wirewortiis. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contagious  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  ox  Potaio  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and  Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever, 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Rearing. 

Diseases  of  Poultry  : — Gapes. 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Feeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg,    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Egg  Production. 
Roarins  and  F.attening  of  Turkeys 
Profitable  Breads  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments — Barley. 

„  ,,  Meadow  Hay 

„  „  Potatoes. 

,.  .,  Mangels. 

,,  ,,  Turnips 

Permanent  Pasture  Grngaes 
The    Rearing    and    Management    of 

Chickens 
••  Husk  "   or  "  Hoose  "   in   Calves. 
Ringworm  on  Cattle 
Haymaking. 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Pest. 
Poultry  Faf^ening 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-Jacket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  E.xperiments. 


fo. 

53. 

•  9 

04. 

99 

55. 

9) 

56, 

9^ 

57. 

»» 

58. 

99 

59. 

60 

9) 

61. 

»> 

62. 

99 

63. 

»9 

64 

99 

65. 

>9 

66. 

99 

67. 

^t 

68. 

9> 

09. 

f 

70. 

9> 

71. 

99 

72. 

99 

73. 

«9 

74. 

99 

75 

9> 

76. 

9  9 

77. 

91 

78. 

9» 

79. 

(9 

80. 

9) 

8L 

♦  9 

82. 

99 

83. 

99 

84. 

91 

85. 

99 

86. 

>9 

87. 

99 

88. 

99 

89 

99 

90. 

9) 

91. 

99 

92. 

93. 

99 

94. 

)9 

95. 

99 

96. 

»» 

97. 

99 

98. 

99. 

The    Construction    of   a    Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

The  Apple. 

Cultivation    of   the    Root   Crop 

Marketing  of  Fruit.. 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Out  oj  Print. 

Fioid  Experiments — Wheat. 

The  Jlanagement  of  Dairv  Cows. 

"  Bed  water  "    or   "  Blood-Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :      Tlie  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The  Proper  Method  of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Oit  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention   of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and      Preservation    of    Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedererow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The    Planting   and   Management  of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common    Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Waiting  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking. 
The    Cultivation   of   Small  Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato  CuUure   on   Small   Farms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiera. 
Ensilage 

Some    injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
Tlie  Home  Bottling  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Fotatoeia. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,   Bacon,  and 

Eggs.      • 
Packing  Eggs  for  Hatching. 
Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  as  Manure. 


SPECIAL    LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  of  Farm  Pests. 

12.  Digging  and  Htrring  of  Potatoes. 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19.  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  Farmers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Pahn  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Potato. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  he  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
Secretary , Department  of  Agrictdture  and  Technical  Instruction  for  Ireland.  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
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"  Publications." 


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THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

*      A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE, 

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Keeper,  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh, 

_  PERCY  H.  GRIM3HAW,   F  R.S.K., 
Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum. 


This  Magazine — founded  in  1871 — i"?  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Origfinal  Matter  relating  to  the 
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Observations  on  Lif-?  Histories,  etc.,  ;ind  Notes  recording  the  occurrence  of  uucomtaon  species  and 
other  useful  and  interesting  facts. 


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R.    J.    "Welch, 

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Vol.  xxxiii.,  No.  6. 


June,  1923. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


Joseph  Wright   (with  portrait)— R.  Ll.  P.  . .  . .         53 

Canon  Lett's  Irish  Sphagna  (Determined  by  J.  A.  Wheldon)       55 


Notes  : 


Curious  Sites  for  Robins'   Nests — W.  J.  Mullin,  Aileen  Smiles, 

Patrick  and  Basil  Berry          , ,             , .  , ,               , , 

The  Squirrel  in  Ireland — R.  F.  Scharff           , ,  . .               ,  , 

The  Cranberry  in  Gtenasmole — A.  W.  Stelfox  , ,               ... 

Red  Cowslips — A.  L.  Massy                ,  ,              .  .  ,  ,                ,  , 


62 
63 
63 
63 


Irish  Societies  : 

Royal  Zoological  Society 
Belfast  Naturalists'   Field  Club 


64 
64 


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EDITED  BY 
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HUDDERSFIELD. 

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LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


No.  1. 


»> 

3. 

IS 

4. 

5. 

» 

6. 

r^ 

J» 

i  * 

1> 

8 

»» 

9. 

»> 

10. 

«• 

11. 

J2. 

»» 

13. 

it 

14. 

»> 

15. 

16. 

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17. 

1> 

18. 

If 

19. 

11 

20. 

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21. 

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22. 

11 

23 

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24. 

25. 

26. 

27. 

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28. 

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29 

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11 

31. 

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32. 

33. 

11 

34. 

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3'i. 

36 

37. 

M 

33 

1> 

39. 

1» 

40 

51 

41 

42. 

5J 

43. 

44 

)) 

45. 

46 

•  1 

47. 

11 

48 

11 

49. 

1  1 

6U 

1  1 

51 

1) 

52 

The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use    and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Stuffs. 
Foot   Rot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot    Dise-ise    or    Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Presliaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Tiinotbv  Meadows 
Th^  Turnip  Fly. 
Wireworrns. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contagious  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  ox  Potato  Blisht. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and   Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Rearing. 

Diseases  of  Poultry  : — Gapes- 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Cilvos. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Feeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg,    Black    Quaxtor,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Egg  Production. 
RearlR.1  and  F.attening  of  Turkeys 
Prof.ta)>Ie  Bre^da  of  Poultry 
Otd  of  Print. 
1  he  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments  -Barley. 

„  „  Meadow  Hay 

,,  „  Potatoes. 

,.  .,  Mai'gela. 

„  Oats. 

,,  ,,  Turnips 

Pprn)anent  Pasture  Or  >S3es 
The    Hearing    and     Monagement    of 

Chicken.^ 
•'  Hu9k  "   or   "  Hooee  "   in   Calves. 
Eingworm  on  Cattle 
Haymaking. 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Peat, 
Poultry  Faf^ening. 
Portable  Poultry  ITouses 
The  Leather-Ja'^ket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


No. 

53 

» 

54 

>> 

55 

>j 

56 

J* 

57 

91 

58 

» 

59 

>> 

60 

9> 

61 

91 

62 

99 

63 

J» 

64 

»9 

65 

>9 

66 

99 

67 

*) 

68 

9> 

69 

,.     70. 


71 

72 

73. 

74 

75 

76. 

77 

78 

79. 

80 

8L 

82 

83 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

The    Construction    of   a    Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

The  Apple 

Cultivation    of   the    Root   Crop 

Marketing  of  Fruit. 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Out  oj  Print. 

Field  Experiments — Wheat. 

The  Jlanagement  of  Dairy  Cows. 

"  Eedwater  "   or   "  Blood-Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :      The  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The  Proper  Method  of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Oit  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention  of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Manageroent, 
and     Preservation    of   Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedgerow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Planting   and   Management  of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common     Parasites    of    the 

Slieep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Wasting  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking. 
The    Cultivation    of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato  CuUure   on   Small    Farms. 
Cultivation  of  IMain  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    Injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
B.arley  Threshing. 
The  Home  I'ottling  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoes. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,   Bacon,  and 

Egg?. 
Packing  Egge  for  Hatcliing, 
Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  as  Manure. 


SPECIAL    LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  of  Farm  Pests. 

12.  Digging  and  Storing  of  Potatoes. 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19,  Home  Cuiing  of  Bncon. 
21.  Farmers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Potr.to. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
Secretary ,Departwent  of  Agriculture  and  'I'echnical  Instruction  for  Ireland.  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
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THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE, 

EDITED    BY 

JAMES rRITCHIE,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  F.R.S.E.,  F.L.S., 
Keeper,  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh, 

PERCY  H.  GRIMSHAW,   F.R.S.E., 
Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum. 


This  Magazine — founded  in  1871 — is  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Oriofinal  Matter  relating  to  the 
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«p 
R.    J.    Welch, 

49  Lonsdale  Street,  Beljast. 


Vol.  xxxiii.,  No.  7. 


July,  1S2S. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


On  the  Origin  of  the  Irish  Cattle—R.  F.  Scharff,  ph.d.,  b.sc.    65 


Notes  : 

Homing  Instinct  in  the  Swift — ^W.  M.  Abbott 


.       76 


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THE  ZOOLOGICAL  GARDENS 

OF  THK 

ROYAL   ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF   IRELAND. 

PHOENIX    PARK,    DUBLIN. 

Open  daily  from  9  a.m„  {Sundays  from  Mnoon) 

till  dusk. 

Admission,     Is.,     except    Wednesdays,    Saturdays,     and 
Holidays,    6d.,    and    Sunday    afternoons,    6d., 
Children  always  Half-price. 

SPECIAL    RATES    FOR    SCHOOL    CHILDREN    AND 

EXCURSION    PARTIES. 

FINEST  COLLECTION  OF  LIONS  IN  EUROPE. 

CHAPMAN'S  ZEBRA  NEWLY  ARRIVED. 
HANDSOME    BLACK    LEOPARD. 

Fine  Young  Chimpanzee  in  tlie  Ape-House. 

YOUNG      INDIAN       ELEPHANT. 

BISON     AND    ZEBUS,    WITH    CALVES. 

BROWN,     HIMALAYAN,     AND     POLAR     BEARS. 

TWO    FINE    SOMALI     OSTRICHES. 

KANGAROOS    AND    WOMBATS 

(Newly  Imported). 

REFRESHMENT     ROOM     OPEN     ALL     THE     YEAR. 

Donations  of  Animals  (Irish  or  Foreign)  thankfully  received. 
Surplus  Stock  of  Beasts    and    Birds    for    Sale  or  Exchange. 

For    particulars,    and    also    for    Terms   and    Privilep;es  of    Mem.bership 
of  the  Society,  apply  to  — 

Prof.  A.  Francis  Dixon, 
Hon,  Sec,  R.Z.S,, 

Trinity  College,  Dublin. 


DEPARTMENT     OF     AGRICULTURE    AND    TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCTION    FOR    IRELAND. 


LIST    OF^Ttfe  DE54£J^^^S^|.EAFLETS. 


No. 


« 

>» 
>» 
»> 
»> 


»» 
>> 

>> 

»> 

5> 

J) 


1. 

2. 

3. 
4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23 
24. 

25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 

29 
30. 

3T. 

32. 

33 

34. 

35. 

36 

37. 

38 

m. 

40 
41. 
42. 
43. 

44 

45. 

46 

47. 

48 

49. 

50 

51 

52 


The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use    and  Purchase  of  Feeding 
''     Stuffs.t         '-.■  '  ,        .      . 
Foot   K,ot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot    Disease    or    Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Tiraothv  Meadows. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contaeioiis  Abortion  in  Cattle.^ 
Prevention  or  Potato  Blight. 


'rMi    01 


'SM^^- 


f'il^fi 


f'ibM 


Manured. 


The   Use  and   Purchase  of 

Swine  Fever.  ^  \z^       v**.4» 

Early  Potato  Gr(y<vm|.^       V^TI.      ^ 

Calf  Rearing. 

Diseases  of  Poultry  :—-G-£fflesL., 

Basic  Slag.  ^ ^*  t-^-^n.^iK-^     ^'^ 

Dishorning  Calves. 

Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fatteuing'-^of- CalW€f.  •^  >"        ?< 
Breeding  and  Feeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg,    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 
f  '  QtnSner  «    *^  -  .   -, 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
^  ^Vintcr-  Egg  Production. 

R^arins  and  Fattening  of  Turkeys 

Profitable  Breeds  of  Poultry 

Out  *o/'  Prints 

The  Liming  of  Land. 

Field  Experiments— Barl^  "  *^  n 

„  „  Meadow  Hay 

„  „  Potatoes. 


''\i- 


The    Rearing 
Chickens 

Eingworm  on  Cattle 
Haymaking. 

The  Black  Currant  Mite  ,  ^  ^ 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Pest,  " 
Poultry  Faf^ening. 
Poctable£.Ppjil>ry  Houses         .   -^  |, - 
The  Leather-Jacket*  (?Tub.     U/5  i^i( 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


No. 

53. 

ti 

54. 

>> 

55. 

>> 

56. 

J^ 

57. 

91 

58. 

» 

59. 

60 

>> 

61. 

J5 

62. 

99 

63. 

99 

•«l 

^65. 
66. 


68. 


The    Construction    of   a    Cowhouse. 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Apple. 

Cultivation    of    the    Root   Crop 
Marketing  of  Fruit. 
Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 
Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 
Out  oj  Print. 

Field  Experiments — Wheat. 
The  Management  of  Dairv  Cows. 
"  Eedwater  "   or   "  Blood -Murrain" 
i     in  CMtle.    -i'     r. 
VarieTies     of^'Prifllt    'Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :     The  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The   Proper  Method  of 
:  ,  .      Planting  Forest  Trees. 
67.  ^O lit  "of  Print.  "■  =" 

Out  of  Print. 
The   Pre-vention  of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
-and ,    PEeservation    of   Shelter-Belt 
and  Hed-gerow  Timber. 
„     71.     Out  of  Print. 
„     72.     Out  of  Print. 

,,"^7^.-  The  Planting   ancl  Man^g^naei^  of 
.*^T.^,  ,„  ,.,,..   Hedges.      ^       ^  -  -^     _.    ,i  -_  ^ 
'   „     74.    Some    Common     Parasites    of    the 
Sheep. 
„     75      Barley  Sowing. 
,,     76.     American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
,,     77.     SQpur  and  Wasting  in  Young  Cattle. 
,,78.^"  SbMe  Buy;erma,lsing.   s     '-"^ 
„     79.     The    Cultivation    of   SiMfr  Fruits. 
80.     Catch  Crops. 
S)..^  -i^otato  pul^re,  jpn-^njall   Farms. 

82.  '  Cultivation  6f  RIafni  Qrop  Potatoes. 

83.  Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
8r4s.  i  Ensikxg*     i  ,,       . 

85.  ~  Some  ttjWHous    OreSiard    Insects. 

86.  Dirty  Milk. 
7;    jBarley  Threshing. 


,.     70. 


V' 


kiW^  fisf . fTte  m>m  :IJt)ttling»(Vf,  f;rtiit 
,,     89.     The   Construction   of  Piggeri 


genes. 


Turnips 

Per'maaNlt'^'&^pf  Of  lasies          ♦.^-  «  yii-j.-PO.  The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 

'^      ing    AuW  Mtm^emenrArfJklv,1  Pl-  '  Black'n|cab  jn  ikit^toes. 

3       _                    _                       ,,92.  Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 

'    ~         ■"    "          Ives,  n  li    »   t9^-  Marketing  of  Wild  Fruii 

« C5  U  IL  „  ,Mi.  9mi  yf  mm.  y.-^,  .  ^ 

,,    95.  Store  C'attle  of  Butter,   Bacon,  and 

ti    \^v  ^  ,      Eggs. 

^^    ^      9^.  'Packing  Eggs  for  Hatching. 


97.  Weeds. 

98.  Tuberculosis  in  Poultry, 
dft-  >?Seaweed,iiat  tM^Aure. 


8 
12. 

18. 
19. 
21. 
23. 

24. 


Destruction  of^THi^Pestsv^r- 

Digging  and  Storing  of  Potatoes. 

Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 

Farmers  and  Income  Ta^.      -'  » '^^  *^*     » «e*  "l  "y*  "^  v « » r 

Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal.  --*  vv-^.  ,\  a-. 

Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Poj;ato. 


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Vol.  xxxiii.,  No.  8. 


August,  1923. 


•  • 


CONTENTS, 
i 

Food  of  the  Irish  Squirrel — C.  B.  Mqffat 

Irish  Societies  : 

Belfast  Naturalists*   Field  Club 

Royal  Zoological  Society 

Royal  Irish  Academy  Fauna  and  Flora  Conunittee 

Notes  : 

Variation  in  Size  of  Eggs  of  the  Little  Tern — Nevin  H.  Foster     . , 

Swifts  in  May.  1923— Nevin  H.  Foster  and  C.  B.  Moffat    *     ,, 

The  Malahide  Tern  Colony— G.  R.  Humphreys 

Helicella  itala  L. ;    an  addition    to   the    Fauna    of   Lambay A.   W. 

Stelfox 

Rubia  peregrina  L.  and  Tragopogon  porrifolius  L.  on  Lambay — A. 

W.  Stelfox 

•  •  ••  ••  •«  •■• 

The  Golden  Samphire  near  Rush,  Co.  Dubiin — A.  W.  Stelfox 


PAGE 

77 


82 
85 


86 
86 

87 

87 

88 
88 


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THE  ZOOLOGICAL  GARDENS 

OF  THK 

ROYAL  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF   IRELAND. 

PHOENIX    PARK,    DUBLIN, 

Open  daily  from  9  a.m«  [Sundays  from  12  noon) 

till  diESk. 

Admission,     Is.,     except     Wednesdays,     Saturdays,     and 
Holidays,    6d.,    and    Sunday    a^tarnoons,    6d., 
Children  always  Half-price. 

SPECIAL    RATES    FOR    SCHOOL    CHILDREN    AND 

EXCURSION    PARTIES. 

FINEST  COLLECTION  OF  LIONS  IN  EUROPE. 

CHAPMAN'S  ZEBRA  NEWLY  ARRIVED. 
HANDSOME     BLACK    LEOPARD. 

Fine  Young  Chimpanzee  in  tlie  Ape-House. 

YOUNG      INDIAN       ELEPHANT. 

BISON     AND     ZEBUS,     WITH    CALVES. 

BROWN,     HIMALAYAN,     AND     POLAR     BEARS. 

TWO    FINE     SOMALI     OSTRICEES. 

KANGAROOS    AND    WOMBATS 

(Newly  Imported). 

REFRESHMENT     ROOM      OPEN     ALL     THE     YEAR, 

Donations  of  Animals  (Irish  or  Foreign)  thankfully  received. 

Surplus  Stock  of  Beasts    and    Birds    for    Sale  or  Exchange. 

For    particulars,    and    also    for    Terms   and    Privileges  of    Membership 
of  the  Society,  ai'ply  to  — 

Prof.  A.  Francis  Dixon, 
Hon.  Sex.,  R.Z.S., 

Trinity  College,  Dublin, 


DEPARTMENT     OF     AGIUCULTURE    AND    TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCIION    FOR    IRELAND. 


LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


-Vo.  1. 

>>  "' 

»  3. 

„  4. 


5. 

6. 

7. 

8 

9. 
10. 
11. 
J2. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21 
22. 
23 
24. 


„  25. 

.,  26. 

„  27. 

»  28. 

„  29 
„  30. 

»  31. 

..  32. 

.,  33 

„  34. 

„  35. 

„  36 

„  37. 

"  F 
>)  »>9- 
„  40 

"  *i 
„  42. 

„  43. 

»  44 
,,  45. 
,;  46 
..  47. 
»  48 
„  49. 
,,  60 
„  51 
„  52 


The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use     and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Stuffs. 
Foot    Rot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celer.v    Leaf  Spot    Disease    or    Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Tiraotbv  Meadows 
Th=>  Turnip  Fly. 
Wire  won  lis. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contaeious  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  oi  Potato  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and  Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Rearing. 

Di=cnr,es  of  Poultry  : — Gapes. 
Basic  Slag. 
Disliorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Freding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg,    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Pftras'.tea — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Egg  Production. 
Rearing  and  Fattening  of  Turkeys 
Profitable  Breeds  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments-Barley. 

„  „  Meadow  Hay 

„  „  Potatoes 

,.  .,  Mangels. 

,,  „  Oats. 

,,  ,,  Turnips 

Pern)anent  Pasture  Grisaes 
The    Rearing    and     Mnnagenient    of 

Chickens 


•'  Husk  •'   0- 


tloose  "   in   Calves. 


Ringworm  on  Cattle 
Haymakina 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Pest. 
Poidtry  Faf^ening 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-Jacket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


No. 

53 

>9 

54 

>> 

55 

>J 

56 

J' 

57 

» 

58 

9? 

59 

91 

60 

>i 

61 

62 

>J 

63 

>> 

64 

>» 

65 

«9 

66 

>> 

67 

9) 

68 

>> 

69 

>> 
J  J 


» J 


» 


70. 


71. 
72. 
73. 

74. 

75 

76. 

77. 

78. 

79. 

80. 

81. 

82. 

83. 

84. 

85. 

86. 

87. 

88. 

89. 

90. 

91. 

92. 

93. 

94. 

95. 

96. 
97. 
98. 
99. 


The    Construction    of    a    Cowhouse. 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Apple 

Cultivation    of    the    Root   Crop 
Marketing  of  Fruit 
•Bpronting  Seed  Potatoes. 
Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 
Out  oj  Print, 

Field  Experiments — Wheat. 
The  Management  of  Dairv  Cows. 
"  Redwater  "    or   "  Blood -Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :      The   Planting  of   Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The   Proper  Method  of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Out  of  Print 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention   of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and      Preservation    of    Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedeerow  Timber. 
Old  of  Print. 
Out  iif  Print. 
The    Planting    and    Management   of 

Hedges. 
Some     Common     Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
A^nerican  Gooseberry  Mildew, 
.Scour  and  Wa'^tinu  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Butterniaking 
The    Cultivation    of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato   CuUure   on    Small    Farms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop   Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    Injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
The  Horn?  I'ottUng  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoes. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,   Bacon,  and 

Eggs. 
Packing  Eggf  for  Hatcliing. 
Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  a?,  Mapure. 


SPECIAL    LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  oi  Farm  Pests. 

12.  Digging  and  St(  ring  of  Potatoes. 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19.  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  Farmers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Pot:ito. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
Secretary,  Departwevt  of  Agriculture  and  'I'chnical  Instruction  for  Ireland.  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
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"  Ptd)li cations." 


TO  SUBSCRIBERS  15s.  Od.  PER  ANNUM,  POST  FREE. 


THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE, 

EDITED    BY 

JAMES  RITCHIE,  M.A.,  .D.Sc,  F.IJ.S.E-.  F.L.S.. 
Keeper,  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh* 

PERCY  H.  GRIMSHAW,   F.R.S.F., 
Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum, 


This  Magazine — founded  in  1 87  1 — is  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Original  Matter  relating  to  the 
Natural  History  of  Scotland,  and  includes  Papers  contributing  to  the  elucidation  of  the  Fauna, 
Observations  on  Life  Histories,  etc.,  and  Notes  recording  the  occurrence  of  uncommon  species  asd 
other  useful  and  interesting  facts. 


Edinburgh:    OLIVER    &,    BOYD,    Tweeddale    Court 


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R.    Lloyd    Praeqer, 

National  Library,  Dublin. 

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R.    J.    Welch, 

49  Lonsdale  Street,  Beljasi. 


Vol.  xxxiiL,  No.  9. 


September,  1923. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Algal  Discolouration  of  Lough  Neagh  and  the  River  Bann 

— Denis  R.  Pack-Beresford,  m.r.i.a.         ..  ..        89 

The  Pearl-Bordered  Fritillary  in  Ireland — R.  A.  Phillips, 

M.R.I.A.     .*  ••  ,  ,  ,  »  ..  •.  91 


Irish  Societies  : 

Dublin  Naturalists'   Field  Club 
A  New  Irish  Field  Club 


92 
94 


Notes  : 


Comparison  of  Eggs  and  Down  of  Pochard  and  Tufted  Duck — Neven 

H.  Foster      .  .             .  .             . .              ,  ,             * ,  , ,  94 

The  American  Grey  Squirrel  in  Ireland — Hugh   Boyd  Watt  , ,  95 

Arrival  of  Spring  Migrants  in  1923 — Nevin  H.  Foster   ,.  ,,  95 

Ihe  Fox  in  Co.  Down  — Nevin  H.  Foster          , ,             .  .  , .  96 

Down  and  Antrim  Plants — Corrie  D.  Chase     , .              ,  ,  . .  96 

Notes  from  Cos.  Down  and  Armagh A.  W.  Stelfox  »  ,  96 


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No.  1. 


6. 

S 
9. 

10. 

1.1. 

:i2. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

20. 

21 

22. 

2.3 

24. 


.,  25 

„  26 

„  27. 

„  28. 

„  29 

„  3C. 

„  31. 

Ij  ^-• 

.,  33 

„  34. 

„  35. 

,.  36 

„  37. 

„  33 

„  39. 

„  40 

„  41 

„  42 

„  43. 

„  44 

„  45. 

„  46 

.,  47. 

„  48 

„  49. 

,,  60 

„  51 

„  52 


The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use     and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Stuffs. 
Foot    Rot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot    Disease    or    Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Timotbv  Meadows 
Th-  Turnip  Fly. 
Wireworrris. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contaeious  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  or  Potato  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and   Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Rearmg. 

Diseases  of  Poultry  : — Gapes- 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bidls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Wintir  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Feeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg     Black    Qiiartor,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poidtry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Egg  Production. 
Rearhi.j   av.d   F.'ittening  of  Turkeys 
Profitable  Breads  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments  -Barley. 

„  „  Meadow  Hay 

,,  „  Potatoes 

,.  .,  Matigels. 

„  Oats. 

,,  ,,  Turnios 

Permanent  Pasture  Or  tBses 
The    Rearing    and     Management    of 

Chickens 
*'  Husk  ••    or   "  Hoofe  '"   in    Calves. 
Bingworm  on  Cattle 
Havmakina 

The   Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Peat 
Poultry  Faf^ening 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-.Taf^ket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


Jo. 

53 

1) 

54 

yj 

55 

J3 

56 

57 

9f 

58 

»> 

59 

60 

>» 

61 

99 

62 

99 

63 

>> 

64 

>9 

65 

»» 

66 

I) 

67 

99 

68 

99 

69 

70. 


71 

72 

/  O 

74 

75 

76 

/ 1 

78 

79 

80 

8L 

82 

83 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

The    Construction    of    a    Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

The  Apple 

Cultivation    of    the    PvOOt   Crop 

Marketing  of  Fruit-,. 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Out  Oj  Print. 

Field  Experiments — Wheat. 

The  Management  of  Dairv  Cows. 

"  Bed  water  "    or   "  Blood-Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :      The  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The   Proper  Method   of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention  of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and     Preservation    of   Shelter-Belt 
and  Iledeerow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
Tlie    Planting   and    Management   of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common     Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Wasting  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking 
The    Cultivation    of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato   Culture   on   Small    F'arms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
The  Home  Bottling  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoes. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,   Bacon,  and 

Eggs. 
Packing  Egge  for  Hatching. 
Weetls. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  as  Manure. 


SPECIAL    LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  of  Farm  Pests. 

12.  Digging  and  Strring  of  Potatoes. 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19.  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  B'armers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Potato. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
Secretary,  Deparirnent  of  Agricvltvre  and  Technical  Instruction  for  Ireland.  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
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"  Publications."  ^ 


TO  SUBSCRIBERS  15s.  Od.  PER  ANNUM,  POST  FREE. 


THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE, 

EDITED   BY 

JAMES  RITCHIE,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  F.R  S.E..  F.L.S., 
Keeper.  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh. 

PERCY  H.  GRIMSHAW.   F.R.S.E., 
Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum, 


This  Mag^azine— founded  in  1871— is  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Orisrinal  Matter  relating  to  the 
Natural  History  of  Scotland,  and  includes  Papers  contributing  to  the  elucidation  of  the  F;»una, 
Observations  on  Life  Histories,  etc.,  and  Notes  recording  the  occurrence  of  uncommon  specie:;  and 
other  useful  and  interesting  facts. 


Edinburgh  I    OLIVER    &.    BOYD,    Tweeddale    Court 


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R.    Lloyd    Praeger, 

National  Library^  Dublin. 

C.    B.    Moffat, 

21  Lower  Baggot  Street,  Dublin. 

R.    J.    Welch, 

49  Lonsdale  Street,  Beljast. 


Vol.  xxxiii.,  No.  10. 


October,  1923. 


CONTENTS. 

Ireland  and  Switzerland  :  A  Botanical  Contrast — R.  Lloyd 

JtRAEGER,    D.SC.      «•  ••  ••  ••  •« 


PAGE 


97 


Irish  Societies  : 

Belfast  Naturalists'   Field  Club 
Route  Naturalists'  Field  Club 


103 
105 


Notes: 

Rare  Fishes  in  Irish  Waters — G.  P.  Farran  ...  , , 

The  Pearl-bordered  Fritillary-^-TnoMAS   Greer 
'  Aster  laevis  at  Lough  Neagh,  Co.  Tyrone — Thomas  Greer 
Beech  Fern  in  Co.  Cavan — G.  G.  Blackwood 


106 
107 
107 
107 


Review  : 

The  North-eastern  Flora 


108 


Obituary  : 

Madame  Christen    , , 


108 


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HUDDERSFIELD. 
WITH   THE    ASSISTANCE    AS   BEFEEEES   IN   SPECIAL   DEPARTMRNTS   OP 

GEO.  T.  PORRITT,  F.LS.,  F.E.S.  RILEY  FORTUNE,  F.Z.S. 

JOHN  W.  TAYLOR,  M.Sc. 

This  journal  is  one  ot  the  oldest  Scientific  Pericxlicals  in  the  British  Isles  datiug  back  to  1833/ 

London  :    A.  BROWN  &   SON.  Ltd./ 5  FARRINGDON   AVENUE,  E.C. 
Prepaid  Subscription,  10/6  per  annum,  posi  ire^ 

Communications  to  be  addressed  to  the  Editors  of  the  NaturaJist.  The  Museum,  Hull. 


THE  ZOOLOGICAL  GARDENS 

OP  THK 

ROYAL  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF  IRELAND. 

PHOENIX    PARK,    DUBLIN. 

Open  daily  from  9  a.m.  (Sundays  from  12  noon) 

till  dusk. 

Admission,     Is.,     except    Wednesdays,     Saturdays,     and 
Holidays,    6d.,    and    Sunday    afternoons,    6d., 
Children  always  Half-price. 

SPECIAL    RATES    FOR    SCHOOL    CHILDREN    AND 

EXCURSION    PARTIES. 

FINEST  COLLECTION  OF  LIONS  IN  EUROPE. 

CHAPMAN'S  ZEBRA  NEWLY  ARRIVED. 
HANDSOME    BLACK    LEOPARD. 

Fine  Young  Chimpanzee  in  tlie  Ape-House. 

YOUNG      INDIAN       ELEPHANT. 

BISON     AND    ZEBUS,     WITH    CALVES. 

BROWN,     HIMALAYAN,     AND     POLAR     BEARS. 

TWO    FINE    SOMALI     OSTRICHES. 

KANGAROOS    AND    WOMBATS 

(Newly  Imported). 

REFRESHMENT     ROOM     OPEN     ALL     THE      YEAR. 

Donations  of  Animals  (Irish  or  Foreig-n)  thankfully  received. 

Surplus  Stock  of  Beasts    and    Birds    for    Sale  or  Exchange. 

For   particulars,    and    also    for   Terms   and    Privileges  of    Membership 
of  the  Society,  apply  to  — 

Prof.  A.  Francis  Dixon, 
Hon.  Sec,  R.Z.S., 

Trinity  College,  Dublin. 


DEPARTMEN-T     OF     AGIUCULTUKE    AND    TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCTION    FOR    IRELAND. 


LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


No. 

1. 

>> 

2. 

»i 

3, 

»• 

4 

« 

5. 

» 

6. 

M 

1) 

i. 

1) 

8 

>« 

q 

t> 

10. 

•- 

11. 

"J  2. 

19 

13. 

>> 

14. 

>» 

J5. 

♦  > 

16. 

» 

17. 

>» 

18. 

19. 

»» 

20. 

»5 

21 

19 

22. 

99 

23 

»> 

24. 

2.5 

26. 

27. 

»> 

28. 

>l 

29 

>> 

30 

>> 

31. 

*^ 

32. 

•  3 

33 

J> 

34. 

)9 

35. 

9) 

86 

>> 

37. 

91 

38 

99 

39 

99 

40 

99 

41 

99 

42 

99 

43. 

99 

44 

99 

45 

9) 

46 

•  f 

47 

99 

48 

99 

49 

99 

50 

99 

51 

99 

52 

The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use    and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Stuffs. 
Foot    Rot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keepins. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot    Di.sease    or   Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Tiraotbv  Meadows 
Th"  Turnip  Fly. 
Wirewornis. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contaeious  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  or  Potato  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and  Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Rearing. 

Diseases  of  Poultry  : — Gapes. 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Feeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg.    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mites,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Egg  Production. 
Rearing  and  Fattening  of  Turkeys 
Profitable  Breads  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments — Barley. 

„  „  Meadow  Hay 

„  „  Potatoes. 

,.  .,  Mangels. 

„  Oats. 

„  Turnips 

Permanent  Pasture  Grasses 
The    Rearing    and    Management    of 

Chickens 
••  Husk  "   or  •'  Hoose  "  in   Calves. 
Ringworm  on  Cattle 
Haymaking. 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Peat. 
Poultry  Fattening. 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-Jacket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


No.  53. 
54. 
55. 

56. 
57. 
58. 
59. 
60 
61. 
62. 
63. 

64 

65. 

66. 

67. 
68. 
69. 

70. 


71. 
72. 
73. 

74. 

75 

76. 

77. 

78. 

79. 

80. 

81. 

82. 

83. 

84. 

85. 

86. 

87. 

88. 

89. 

90. 

91. 

92. 

93. 

94. 

95. 

96. 

97. 
98. 
99. 


The   ConstrucUoQ    of   a   Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

The  Apple. 

Cultivation    of   the    Root   Crop 

Marketing  of  Fruit. 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Out  oj  Print. 

Field  Experiments — Wheat 

The  Management  of  Dairv  Cows. 

"  Bed  water  "   or   "  Blood-Murrain" 

In  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestry  :     The  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The   Proper  Method   of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention  of  Tuberculosis  In 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and     Preservation    of   Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedgerow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Planting   and   Management  of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common     Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Wasting  In  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking 
The    Cultivation    of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato  Culture  on   Small   Farms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    Injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
The  Home  Bottling  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of  Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoes. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,   Bacon,  and 

Eggs. 
Packing  Eggs  for  Hatching. 
Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  as  Manure. 


SPECIAL   LEAFLETS 

8,  Destruction  of  Farm  Vesis. 

12.  Digging  and  Storing  of  Potatoes. 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19.  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  Farmers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Potato. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
•'Secretary,  Departwevt  of  Agriculture  and  T<'.chnical  Instruction  for  Ireland.  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
Dublin,  LxtterK  of  application  so  addressed  need  not  be  stamped.  Envelopes  should  be  marked 
'•  Publications." 


TO  SUBSCRIBERS  15s.  Od.  PER  ANNUM,  POST  FREE. 


THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE, 

EDITED   BV 

JAMES  RITCHIE,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  F.R  S.E..  F.L.S., 
Keeper.  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh 

PERCY  H.  GRIMSHAW.   F.R.S.F., 
Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Museum, 


This  Magazine — founded  in  1871 — is  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Origrinal  Matter  relating  to  the 
Natural  History  of  ^^cotland,  and  includes  Papers  contributing  to  the  elucidation  of  t^e  •  K;«una, 
Observations  On  Lifrt  Histories,  etc.,  and  Notes  recordiiig  tiie  occurrence  of  uncorataon  specias  and 
other  useful  and  interesting  facts. 


Edinburgh  .'    OLIVER    &,     BOYD,    Tweeddale    Court 


NOTICE 

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Vol.  xxxii.,  No.  11. 


November,  1923. 


CONTENTS. 

The    Larva     of      a      Hydrophilid     Beetle,     Megasternum 
boletophagum — K.  C.  Joyce  Phillips 

The  Balance  of  Nature — ^An  Irish  Naturalist 
A  Plea  for  Moss  Study —Rev.  W.  R.  Megaw,  b.a. 


PAGE 

109 
114 


Notes  : 

Foxes  in  Co.  Tyrone — ^Thomas   Greer  , , 

A  Tunny  stranded  at  Castlerock — ^W.  Swanston 
Galium  sylvestre  in  Co.  Derry- — ^W.  R.  Megaw 


116 
116 
116 


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EDITED    BY 

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A  Monthly  Illustrated  Journal  of 

NATURAL    HISTORY    FOR    THE    NORTH    OF    ENGLAND. 

EDITED  BY 
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The  Museum,  Hull  : 

AND 

T.  W.  WOODHEAD,  Ph.D.,  k.Sc,  F.L.S.,  Tixh.  Coll. 

HUDDERSFIELD. 

WITH    THE    ASSISTANCE    AS    REFEREES   IN    SPECIAL    DEPARTMRNTS    OP 

GEO.  T.  PORRITT,  F.LS.,  F.E.S.  RILEY  FORTUNE,  F.Z.S. 

JOHN  W.  TAYLOR,  M.Sc. 

This  Journal  is  one  of  the  oldest  Scientific  Periodicals  in  the  British  Isles  dating  back  to  1833 

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THE  ZOOLOGICAL  GARDENS 

OP  THK 

ROYAL   ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF   IRELAND. 

PHOEMIX    PARK,    DUBLIN. 

Open  daily  from  9  a.m.  {Sundays  from  Mnoon) 

tsll  dusk. 

Admission,     Is.,     WednesdaySr    Saturdays,     and    Sunday 
afternoons,  6d.,  CSiildren  always  Half-price. 

SPECIAL    RATES    FOR    SCHOOL    CHILDREN    AND 

EXCURSION    PARTIES. 

FINEST  COLLECTION  OF  LIONS  IN  EUROPE. 

CHAPMANS  ZEBRA  AND  DROMEDARY 

(Newly  Arrived).  « 

THREE    HANDSOME    LEOPARDS. 

FINE    YOUNG    CHIMPANZEES. 
YOUNG  INDIAN    ELEPHANT. 

BISON     AND    ZEBUS,    WITH    CALVES. 
BROWN,  HIMALAYAN,  MALAYAN  AND  POLAR  BEARS. 

FINE    SOMALI     OSTRICHES. 

KANGAROOS,     PACAS    AND    ZORILLAS    AND    MANY 
OTHER    RARE    AND    BEAUTIFUL    ANIMALS. 

RBFREStlMENT     ROOM     OPEN     ALL     THE     YEAR. 

Donations  of  Animals  (Irish  or  Foreign)  thanlifully  received. 

For   Terms   and    Privileges  of  Membershi))  of  the  Society,  apply  to — 

Prof.  A.  Francis  Dixon, 
Hon.  Sec,  R.Z.S.I., 

,  Zoological  Gardens,  Phcenix  Park. 


DEPARTMENT     OF     AGRICULTURE    ANJ)    TECHNICAL 
INSTRUCTION    FOR    IRELAND. 


LIST    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT'S    LEAFLETS. 


No. 

1. 

»» 

2. 

» 

3, 

*> 

4 

t 

5. 

» 

6. 

« 

»» 

^. 

»> 

8 

»> 

9. 

ij 

10. 

«■ 

11. 

J2. 

j» 

13. 

>> 

14. 

»> 

15. 

«5 

16. 

J> 

17. 

J> 

18. 

J> 

19. 

J> 

20. 

>> 

21 

9» 

22. 

>> 

23 

»> 

24. 

?» 

25 

26 

9? 

27 

»> 

28 

9> 

29 

>» 

30 

» 

31 

»J 

32 

•  9 

83 

>> 

34 

5> 

35 

9) 

36 

J> 

37 

>» 

38 

)> 

39 

>» 

40 

99 

41 

>) 

42 

JJ 

43 

99 

44 

99 

45 

>> 

46 

•9 

47 

99 

48 

99 

49 

99 

50 

51 

99 

52 

The  Warble  Fly. 

The     Use    and  Purchase  of  Feeding 

Stuffs. 
Foot   E,ot   in    Sheep. 
Intensive  and  Semi-Intensive  Poultry 

Keeping. 
Celery    Leaf  Spot    Disease    or    Blight. 
Charlock  (or   Preshaugh)   Spraying. 
Fluke  in  Sheep. 
Timothy  Meadows 
Th''  Turnip  Fly. 
Wirewornis. 

Preventive  of  White  Scour  in  Calves. 
Liquid  Manure. 

Contaeioas  Abortion  in  Cattle. 
Prevention  oi  Potato  Blight. 
Milk  Records. 
Sheep  Scab. 

The   Use  and  Purchase  of  Manures. 
Swine  Fever. 
Early  Potato  Growing. 
Calf  Rearing. 

Diseases  of  Poultry  : — Gapes. 
Basic  Slag. 
Dishorning  Calves. 
Care    and    Treatment    of    Premium 

Bulls. 
Fowl  Cholera. 

Winter  Fattening  of  Cattle. 
Breeding  and  Foeding  of  Pigs. 
Blackleg.    Black    Quarter,    or    Blue 

Quarter 
Flax  Seed. 
Poultry  Parasites — Fleas,  Mitea,  and 

Lice. 
Winter  Egg  Production. 
Rearina  and  Fattepin?  of  Turkeys 
Profitable  Breeds  of  Poultry 
Out  of  Print. 
The  Liming  of  Land. 
Field  Experiments — Barley. 

„  ,,  Meadow  TTay 

„  „  Potatoes. 

,.  .,  Mangels. 

„  „  Oats. 

„  ,,  Turnips 

Pernjanent  Pasture  Or  tases 
The    Rearing    and    Management    of 

••  Husk  "   or  "  Hoose  "   in   Calves. 
Ringworm  on  Cattle 
Haymakiniz 

The  Black  Currant  Mite 
Foul  Brood  or  Bee  Pest, 
Poultry  Faf^ening. 
Portable  Poultry  Houses 
The  Leather-Jacket  Grub. 
Flax  Growing  Experiments. 


No. 

53 

tt 

54 

i> 

55 

>9 

56 

»! 

57 

91 

58 

»9 

59 

t% 

60 

99 

61 

99 

62 

99 

63 

»» 

64 

99 

65 

99 

66 

99 

67 

99 

68 

99 

69 

,.     70. 


71 

72 

73. 

74 

75 

76 

77 

78 

79. 

80. 

8L 

82 

83 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

98 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

The    Construction    of   a    Cowhouse. 

Out  of  Print. 

The  Apple. 

Cultivation    of    the    Root   Crop 

Marketing  of  Fruit.. 

Sprouting  Seed  Potatoes. 

Testing  of  Farm  Seeds. 

Out  oj  Print. 

Field  Experiments — Wheat. 

The  Management  of  Dairv  Cows, 

"  Redwater  "   or   "  Blood-Murrain" 

in  Cattle. 
Varieties     of     Fruit     Suitable     for 

Cultivation  in  Ireland. 
Forestrv  :      Tiie  Planting  of  Waste 

Lands. 
Forestry  :      The   Proper  Method  of 

Planting  Forest  Trees. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Prevention   of  Tuberculosis  in 

Cattle. 
Forestry :     Planting,    Management, 
and      Preservation    of    Shelter-Belt 
and  Hedgerow  Timber. 
Out  of  Print. 
Out  of  Print. 
The   Planting   and   Management  of 

Hedges. 
Some    Common    Parasites    of    the 

Sheep. 
Barley  Sowing. 
American  Gooseberry  Mildew. 
Scour  and  Wasting  in  Young  Cattle. 
Home  Buttermaking. 
The    Cultivation   of   Small   Fruits. 
Catch  Crops. 

Potato  Culture  on   Small   Farms. 
Cultivation  of  Main  Crop  Potatoes. 
Cultivation  of  Osiers. 
Ensilage 

Some    Injurious    Orchard    Insects. 
Dirty  Milk. 
Barley  Threshing. 
The  Home  Bottling  of  Fruit. 
The   Construction   of   Piggeries. 
The  Advantages  of  Early  Ploughing. 
Black  Scab  in  Potatoes. 
Home  Preservation  of  Eggs. 
Marketing  of  Wild  Fruits. 
Out  of  Print. 
Store  Cattle  or  Butter,  Bacon,  and 

Eggs. 
Packing  Egg."  for  Hatching. 
Weeds. 

Tuberculosis  in  Poultry. 
Seaweed  as  Manure. 


SPECIAL   LEAFLETS 

8  Destruction  of  Farm  Pests. 

12,  Digging  and  Storing  of  Potatoes. 

18.  Treatment  of  Allotments  for  the  Growing  of  Vegetables. 

19,  Home  Curing  of  Bacon. 
21.  I'armers  and  Income  Tax. 

23.  Palm  Nut  Cake  and  Meal. 

24.  Leaf-Roll  ahd  Mosaic  Diseases  of  the  Pot.to. 

Note. — The  other  Special  Leaflets  are  not  now  being  issued. 

Copies  of  the  above  leaflets  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  and  post  free,  on  application  to  the 
Secretary, Department  of  Agrictdture  and  'I'echnical  Instruction  for  Ireland.  Upper  Merrion  Street, 
Dublin,  Letters  of  application  so  addressed  need  not  be  stamped.  Envelopes  should  be  marked 
"  Publications." 


TO  SUBSCRIBERS  15s.  Od.  PER  ANNUM.  POST  FREE. 


THE    SCOTTISH    NATURALIST. 

A   MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 

EDITED    BY 

JAMES  RITCHIE,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  F.R  S.E.,  F  L.S.. 
Keeper.  Natural  History  Department,  Royal  Scottish  Musei4m,  Edinbufgh, 

PERCY  H.  GRIMSHAW,    F  R.S.F., 
Natural  History  Department.  Royal  Scottish  Museum. 


This  Magazine — founded  in  1871 — is  devoted  to  the  publication  of  Origfinal  Matter  relating  to  tiie 
Natural  History  of  Scotland,  and  includes  Papers  contributing  to  the  el.:cidatioi.  of  the  K^juna, 
Observations  on  Lif^  Histories,  etc.,  and  Notes  recording  tiie  occurrence  of  uncom'.iion  speci<ii  ^nd 
other  useful  and  interesting  facts. 


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Vol.  xxxii.,  No.  12. 


Decambtr,  1923. 


CONTENTS. 


Stray    Reflections    on    the    Irish    Alpine      Flora — R.    F. 

SCHARFF,    PH.D.     .  .  .  .  .  . 

Irish  Sphagna — William  A.  Lee,  m.a.,  ph.d.     . .  . 


Reviews  : 


Dwerryhouse's  "  Glaciation  of  North-eastern    Ireland    — (J.  de  W. 
Minch)     ••  ..  ••  ••  '..  .. 

Swann's  "Chronological  List  of  British  Birds  "— (C.B.M.) 


PAGE 

117 
121 


124 
127 


Irish  Societies  : 

Belfast  Natural  History  and  Philosophical  Society 
Belfast  Naturalists'   Field  Club 
Route  Naturalists'  Field  Club 


127 

128 
128 


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