A Wren's Nest in Raspberry CanesAuthor(s): Pamela GriffithSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Jul., 1930), p. 90Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25531816 .

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90 The Irish Naturalists' Journal. [Vol. III.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES. A FRIENDLY BABY SEAL.

1 believe it is a rare occurrence for seals to be found along the coast of County Down, but on 15th June, when bathing at Tyrella, I noticed what at first appeared to be the heads of other bathers swimming within a distance of 50 yards. On looking again, however, I discovered that four seals were disporting themselves in the water. A human audience did not bother them in the least, and they continued their gambols for some time,

eventually making off to deeper waters. A little later I and my friends discovered that the seals had left a baby behind. This youngster was about

2? feet long, and was floundering about at the water's edge. A crowd soon

collected around it, and children patted its head and stroked its back as if it was a dog, while it playfully flopped about after them. Several attempts

were made to persuade the little animal to follow its elders, and it was

carried farther out to sea but soon returned to the beach. Whether it was

finally gathered into the family fold or left behind in solitude I am unable to say.

Lisbum. B. B. CATFORD.

A WREN'S NEST IN RASPBERRY CANE& For the past two years we have had a nest of the Common Wren built

in a rather unusual situation in. the garden. Last year the birds built among

loganberries, on a trellis, about four feet above the ground, and hatched out a goodly sized brood. They seemed indifferent to tennis and croquet being played quite close to the nest. This year another nest has 'been built, about the same height, in a cluster of raspberry canes, also quite close to the tennis

court, and about 50 yards or so from last year's site. My sisters and I believe that there are more birds than usual about the garden this season, and wonder if it is due to the past mild winter. I was amused a few days ago on hearing an unusual sound in the garden and found that it was a

thrush breaking a box-snail shell against a stone on the border, and half-an hour later I found it repeating the process with another snail. This was the common brown garden snail.

Cliftonville, Belfast. PAMELA GRIFFITH.

TITMICE EATING CORN. I am not at all surprised to learn that Blue Tits have been observed

by Miss Loewenthal eating corn, for I have, on several occasions, seen

Coal Tits visiting stacks of oats (showing, by the way, a preference for the

Tartary oats), and carrying off grains?invariably only one grain at a time? to be eaten at a considerable distance from the stack. I -hardly think they inflicted much loss on the farmer.

Dublin. C. B. MOFFAT.

BOAR FISH OFF CORK COAST. I have to thank Mr. Eugene O'Mahony of the National Museum, Dub

lin, for identifying a specimen of the Boar Fish (Capros aper Lacep.) in

Courtmacsherry Bay, Co. Cork, on 17th June last. It was taken in a

trawl with Black Sole and Plaice, in 10 fathoms of water, with a sandy and

shelly bottom. The Boar Fish is a southern, species ranging from the Mediterranean

and Madeira to the English Channel where it is said to be abundant. It is strange, therefore, that the only Irish records quoted by Day and Jenkins

are for "

Dingle Bay "

and "

Ventry Harbour," Co. Kerry. When alive the B?ar Fish is a rich rose-pink colour, but quickly fades after death.

Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork. JAMES W. BARRY.

PLAN0RB1S CORNEUS (Linn) IN COUNTY ANTRIM. This rare and local mollusk was found living in hundreds in a pond

in the grounds of the Glenville Hotel, Cushendall, on 4th May. No other freshwater mollusk could be found associated with it. Its present distri bution in Ireland is extremely limited, being confined to Kildare and Queen's

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