Ml*. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 31 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. 



Fig. 1. A magnified cell o^ Zygnema nitidum; exhibiting the structure of 

 the central cytoblast prior to the cessation of the growth of the 

 species, the tubular connexion between the zoospores, and other 

 points in the anatomy of the Zygnemata, 



Fig, 2 & 3. give the appearances of the cytoblast subsequent to that epoch, 

 and to the removal of the radii. 



Fig. 4 & 5. show the structure of the joints in Zygnema quadrdium ; a 

 similar formation existing in a considerable number oi Zygnemata. 



Fig. 6. represents a filament of Vesiculifera capillaris prior to the assump- 

 tion of the characters of reproduction. 



Fig. 7. The species in its perfect condition. 



Fig. 8. The vascular connexion between the zoospores taken from Conf. 

 crispata. 



IIL — The Birds of Ireland. By Wm. Thompson, Esq., 

 Pres. Nat. Hist. Society, Belfast. 



[Continued from vol. xi. p. 290.] 



The Red Grouse — Tetrao Scoticus, Lath. — is common to 

 heathy tracts of every altitude^ from the low bog, which is 

 barely elevated above the sea, to the summits of the moun- 

 tains throughout Ireland, and the adjacent islets. In the 

 most favoured localities the species is as plentiful as in the 

 Highlands of Scotland ; but our moors, instead of being let as 

 in that country to the highest bidder, are, with rare exceptions, 

 reserved by the proprietors for their own, or their friends' 

 shooting*. 



On the range of the Belfast mountains^ rising to nearly 1 600 feet 

 in altitude, the grouse still maintains its ground, and in the even- 

 ings of summer and autumn, when taking a favourite walk to the 

 mountain-ridge to behold the grand and varied prospect on every 

 side, and above all, to watch the down-going of the sun behind the 

 distant mountains on the farther side of Lough Neagh, and see 

 the vast expanse of waters steeped in the most lovely hues, the 

 crowing of the grouse has almost invariably enlivened my walk 

 home. To my ear the call is delightful, from its association with 

 the wildness of nature. When undisturbed at sucli times, the 

 alarm note well known to sportsmen as a repetition of " the syllable 

 kok" was rarely heard, but the crowing — which is admirably re- 

 presented by the words " go, go, go, go, go-back, go-backf" — is 



* It has been remarked to me that the grouse of Ireland and Scotland 

 differ in size and colour ; but this, though apparently correct when birds of 

 a certain district are compared with those of another, I consider to be a 

 partial view, for in different localities throughout either Scotland or Ireland 

 birds will be found equally to vary in these respects. 



t MacgilHvray's * Brit. Birds,' vol. i. p. 181, where it is added that " the 

 Celts naturally imagining the moor-cock to speak Gaelic, interpret it as 

 signifying co, co, co, co, mo-chlaidh, mo-chlaidh — that is, who, who (goes 

 there?) my sword, my sword !" 



