Early Arrival of Swifts in Co. WicklowAuthor(s): C. B. MoffatSource: The Irish Naturalist, Vol. 10, No. 6 (Jun., 1901), p. 132Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25521981 .

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132 The Irsh Naturalist. June, I90I.

Amphipeplea (Limnasa) glutinosa in the River Bana. Purther search for this rare and interesting shell proves that it is

plentiful along the margins of the river near Portadown, where I took twenty full grown specimens at Easter. This is about two miles further up than the locality recorded in the Irish Naturalist, i9oo, page 48, where

only a few examples were taken. The mouth of a drain opening into

the river seems to be their favourite habitat, but I have taken them at

intervals along the river bank with a scoop.

WM. A. GRZIN. Belfast,

The Common Lizard in Antrim. In May, when looking for shells at the base of a wall at Whitehead,

I discovered a specimen of this Lizard (Lacerta vivizara). It tried to

escape through the grass. I caught hold of its tail, which broke off in my fingers and continued to wriggle for some minutes.

I had captured the Lizard in a handful of grass that I seized, and it

now enjoys itself in a glass-topped box, and seems happy when basking in the sun. Its beauty is sadly marred by the loss of its tail. I hope it

will live to grow another.

HUGH L. ORR. Belfast.

Eaxly arrival of Swifts in Co. Wicklow. While staying with Mr. Barrington lately I saw a large number of

Swifts-at least thirty-flying about Fassaroe in the forenoon of April

22nd. This is the earliest date at which I have ever seen a Swift; and

Mr. Barrington tells me he has no recollection of its reaching Fassaroe so early in any previous year. I have noted-in fifteen years-the

dates on which I saw the first Swift in Dublin between I882 and I897. Twice-in I885 and I896-the date was so early as April 26th, only one bird being seen on each occasion, once it was on April 27th (a group of

four birds), once on May Ist (one bird), twice on May 2nd (one or two each time), once on May 3rd (a group of seven), twice on May 5th, twice on May 6th, three times on May 8th, and once-in I883- as late as May

loth, when only one was seen. The average date of first appearance in Dublin would seem to be about May 3rd. The number of Swifts seen by me on the occasion of their first appearance has seldom exceeded two; and it was, therefore, very curious to see so large an assemblage as thirty or more at the unusvilly early date of April 22nd.

C. B. MOFFAT.

Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford.

Spring Migrants in Co. Antrin. The following early arrivals of birds may be worthy of a notice:

Cuckoo, April gth; Chiff-chaff, April i8th; Swallow, April igth. S. A. BRENAN.

Cushendun, Co. Antriin.

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