Records of Leathery Turtles Dermochelys coriacea (L.) from Co CorkAuthor(s): D. P. Sleeman and J. A. DormanSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 21, No. 8 (Oct., 1984), p. 371Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25538881 .

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Ir.Nat.J. Vol. 21 No. 8 1984 371

RECORDS OF LEATHERY TURTLES DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA (L.) FROM CO CORK

On 22 August 1983 a rotting turtle carcase was found on the shore of the Argideen Estuary

(W4843), near Courtmacsherry, Co Cork. The carcase was headless, off-white in colour and seething with dipterous larvae. The length of the remains was 1.56m. A wide gash ran along the animal's dorsal

surface and it is possible that it had been in collision with a boat. The specimen was identified as a

leathery turtle with characteristic posterior tapering of the carapace and seven notched dorsal ridges

clearly visible. The atlas vertebra and a small quantity of dermal platelets from the specimen have

been deposited in the National Museum (NMI 165. 1983). A living turtle fitting the description of D. coriacea circled the boat of Skipper Gerrit Bruins

while shark fishing off Courtmacsherry on 10 August 1983. The animal appeared to be feeding on

chopped up mackerel, called 'rubby dubby', used as shark attractant. Mr Bruins had a clear view of

the turtle for several hours and estimated its length at approximately 1.5m.

A living turtle was also seen from a boat off Cork in August 1978, and one was seen from a gas

platform (50km SE of Kinsale Head) in September 1983. Another was captured by a Dutch fishing boat off Ballycotton in September 1981. From photographs taken of this specimen it is clear that it was

approximately 1.5m in length (A. A. Myers pers. comm.).

Leathery turtles are now the commonest turtles found in Irish waters. There are at present over 30

definite records of these turtles in the National Museum's manuscript list (C. E. O'Riordan pers.

comm.) exclusive of the above records. Most of the Irish records occur in the summer and autumn on

south and west coasts.

We are very grateful to Dr C. E. O'Riordan and Dr A. A. Myers for access to, and use of,

unpublished records and to Mr G. Bruins for his helpful account.

Department of Zoology, University College, Cork. D. P. SLEEMAN

Department of Zoology, Trinity College, Dublin. J. A. DORM AN

MESITES TARDII (CURTIS) IN NORTH IRELAND

A recent definitive paper on Me sites tardii (Curtis) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) in Britain and

Ireland by R. W. J. Read (Entomologist's Gazette 33: 233 (1982)) prompts me to record my own

experiences of this rare, mainly coastal, weevil in Ireland.

I first took this species near Saintfield in August 1954, a new county record and not before

published by me. Pupae and imagos were abundant in an old holly (Ilex) trunk which may have come

from a nearby hedge, but the area was not otherwise wooded.

I have also found this species rather more recently, in August 1981, on a fence-post near

Mussenden Temple, west of Castlerock, Co Londonderry. On revisiting the area in August 1983, the

posts were found to have been replaced, but more than thirty of the beetles were found under loose

bark of three old weather-beaten ash trees (Fraxinus) growing beside the circular stone sheep-pen near

the Temple and above the very steep wooded slope not far from the shore.

The beetle has one previous Londonderry record, namely that of C. R. Algeo from "Magilligan'' a rather vague area of sea-shore and sand-dune not far to the west of the Mussenden site (Ir. Nat. 16:

181-182. (1907)).

20 St Nicholas Grove, Ingrave, Brentwood, Essex CM 13 3RA. IAN McCLENAGHAN

UNUSUAL BEHAVIOUR BY A STARLING

On 22 October 1983 while watching a mixed flock of lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (L.), and

starlings, Sturnus vulgaris (L.) at Coolfin, Co Waterford, the flock suddenly took to the air and

dispersed in all directions as a consequence of the appearance of a kestrel Falco tinnunculus (L.). The

kestrel singled out one starling and rapidly gained on the fleeing bird. When it seemed that the kestrel

was about to bind to the starling, the starling dived to the ground amid a group of cattle but it had in fact

landed on the back of one of them, which became very agitated and began to wheel and jump about.

The starling successfully managed to stay on by vigorous wing flapping as the kestrel hovered

overhead. After fifteen to twenty seconds the kestrel gave up the hunt and flew off. The starling then

flew off in the opposite direction.

23 Morley Terrace, Waterford. DECLAN McGRATH

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