Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/216

188 here during the nesting season is worthy of notice, as not having happened, to my knowledge, for many years, although I have sometimes seen a solitary specimen at different times in various summers during that period. The birds are not rare here in winter, an occasional one being frequently seen. It is the appearance of the pair during the nesting season which surprised me. I recollect when several pairs nested near here, but they decreased to only a pair or so nesting in an occasional season. Then they became so reduced that no nesting was known. It would be interesting to know whether there have been any other extensions in the summer range of these birds during the past season. I have a special reason in being interested in the question, because for several years their favourite haunts were practically overrun by Rabbits, which are well known as being very much disliked by various other animals. Means were taken during the previous winter to decrease the number of these rodents on the spots the Snipe frequented during the past summer, and the idea crossed my mind that the Snipe had found their way to the marshy moorland after the Rabbits had been decimated there, and that the presence of the latter had kept the former away on some previous years at least.— (Alford, Aberdeen, N.B.).

Birds Singing during a Thunderstorm.—For some reason or other I have missed reading my 'Zoologist' for July, 1898, until now, and so have only just seen an interesting little note by Mr. Horsbrugh on this subject at p. 322. Mr. Horsbrugh records the singing of many Thrushes and a few Chaffinches during a heavy thunderstorm on May 23rd, 1898. I can add the Wood-Pigeon to his list; and in the 'Irish Naturalist' for October, 1899, at p. 231, will be found a short note in which I mentioned that the cooing of Wood-Pigeons was in no way interrupted by a heavy thunderstorm, accompanied by rain, on Aug. 18th, 1898. The voices of these birds were constantly audible between the thunder-claps.— (Kilmarnock, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford, Ireland).

Blue Shark in Killala Bay: a Correction.—In my notice in the January number of 'The Zoologist' of the occurrence of a Blue Shark on the island of Bartragh, I erroneously named it the Blue Shark from the description received from a person to whom Capt. Kirkwood related the occurrence. However, on meeting Capt. Kirkwood, and talking about the fish, it was evidently a fine specimen of the Fox Shark (Alopecias vulpes), 10½ ft. large, and the elongated portion of the tail-fin nearly as long as the body, fully 4 ft. in length; and he was so struck with this peculiarity of the tail that he cut it off and brought it home.— (Moyview, Ballina).