Mr. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 283 



angles, which are nearly right angles ; the upper surface is 

 but little convex, the reflected lateral margins are rather 

 broad, the dorsal channel moderately distinct, but obliterated 

 near the anterior and posterior margins of the thorax ; on each 

 side, behind, are two oblique, long, smooth foveae, between 

 which is a transverse impression situated at about one-fourth 

 of the distance from the base towards the apex of the thorax — 

 this transverse impression is not strongly marked. Elytra 

 elongate-ovate, above subdepressed, the lateral reflected mar- 

 gins broad and distinct, the surface nearly smooth but ex- 

 hibiting indistinct striae, and these are most faintly punc- 

 tured ; two smallish red spots are observable on each elytron 

 near the outer margin, one towards the base of the elytron, 

 and the other on the apical fourth ; the legs are pitchy or 

 pitchy-red. Sometimes the red spots on the elytra are obli- 

 terated, the legs are nearly black, and the antennae and palpi 

 are pitchy. 



Obs. — As regards one of the characters upon which I found 

 the present genus, I allude to the male sex having four of the 

 joints of the anterior tarsi distinctly dilated, I may call at- 

 tention to the remark by Dejean in his observations on the 

 Feronice, viz. that this group is distinguished from the Har- 

 pali by the structure of the intermediate tarsi (i. e. they are 

 not dilated), and by the fourth joint of the anterior tarsus, 

 which is never dilated in the male sex. The genus Lissopterus 

 therefore affords a remarkable exception to a general rule. 



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

 Pres. Nat. Hist. Society, Belfast, 



[Continued from vol. x. p. 179.] 



The Ring-Dove * — Columba Palumbus, Linn. — is common 

 throughout the wooded districts of the island. 



Mr. Waterton is rather disposed to believe that in his part of York- 

 shire there is an annual increase by migration to the numbers of na- 

 tive birds. Mr. Selby states, in general terms, that there is not any 

 such increase. The great numbers that congregate in autumn, and 

 remain together during winter in Ireland, I have always considered 

 as our indigenous birds only, collected together in their choicest 

 haunts, however widely separated they may have been in the breed- 

 ing-season. 



Belvoir Park near Belfast, with its fine and extensive woods, is 

 quite a preserve for these birds, and throughout the autumn and 

 winter they may be daily seen there in the afternoon, in multitudi- 



* Commonly called Wood Quest and Wood Pigeon in the north of Ire- 

 land. 



