Convolvulus Hawk-Moth in County TyroneAuthor(s): Andrew DohertySource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 1, No. 14 (Nov., 1927), p. 275Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25531441 .

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November, 1927.] 275

we can acquire more knowledge in a little while than by reading books on this subject for several years/* and Dr. Gustaf Kolthoff, the creator of the Stockholm Biological Museum, and arctic

explorer, says:?" To learn the habits of animals and to love

them is one of the greatest and purest sources of pleasure that

we humans have."

ZOOLOGICAL SIFTINGS. OTTERS IN COUNTY DOWN..

When shooting near Castle Espie, and near Rough Island, Comber, I

meet frequently men who make their living by wild-fowling in winter and

fishing in summer. They tell me that Otters are fairly numerous in the

area, and are met with on the strands at night. These wild-fowlers believe

that the animals pursue geese, catching them by the leg, pulling them under

the water, and feeding on them when brought ashore on the mud flats.

The presence of so many otters in this locality may be accounted for by the close proximity of the Comber river where fish are plentiful at times.

This summer an otter was shot on Rough Island by a gunner. The

animals are more abundant than is generally supposed; they seldom show themselves by day, consequently only those whose pursuits take them abroad by night have a good chance of noting them. A friend tells me

he saw tracks of a number of otters in marshy ground near the canal at

Moira in September, Belfast. H. A. C. GRIFFITH.

THE GREY SQUIRREL SPREADS TO WESTMEATH. A male American Grey Squirrel (Sciurus cinereus L.), which had been

shot in Co. Westmeath on 18th September last was forwarded to the National Museum, Dublin, by Mr. C. Reynolds, of Bally boy, Abbeylara, near Granard. It is thus evident that this species of squirrel, which was turned loose in Co. Longford a few years ago is tending to spread. As it is stated to be a great enemy of our small bird fauna it is to be hoped

that it does not eventually become a pest. National Museum, Dublin. A. W. STELFOX.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE ON ROCKABILL. On the 26th of August a Red-backed Shrike (Lanius c. collurio) was

caught near -the lighthouse on Rockabill off County Dublin, and forwarded to me by Mr. D. O'Donovan, one of the lightkeepers. This is the fourth occurrence of this species in Ireland. Of the three other specimens two have come from lighthouses aud one was obtained inland in County Down.

Dublin. JOHN S. BARRINGTON.

BLACK TERNS ON LOUGH MASK. I saw two Black Terns, Chlidonias n. nigcr L.; on, Lough Mask on

19th June last. The birds, presumably a pair, I observed from my boat at a distance of ten to twelve yards, on the Maamtrasna arm of the lough,

where I was fishing at the time. II Percy Place, Dublin. TOM GRAY.

CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH IN COUNTY TYRONE. On Sunday, 4th September, a large moth, which has since been identified

in the National Museum, Dublin, as a Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Sphinx convolvuli) alighted on the hall door at the house of Mr. Wm. King, Abercorn Terrace, Strabane. He did not interfere with it in any way, but on a closer examination on the following morning he discovered it

was dead. It alighted with wings outspread and died that way. Butcher Street, Strabane. ANDREW DOHERTY. [Another specimen (badly damaged) was obtained at Aghadowey, County

Londonderry, in September, and sent to us by Mr. T. McCloy, Belfast, for identification.?Ed. J

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