Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 25 



once hearing its notes, though during a similar time, a month 

 before, they were almost constantly uttered, and when the days 

 alluded to were equally fine. A certain progress of their broods 

 may have caused this silence. The chief haunts of the chiff- 

 chaff in the counties of Down and Antrim are wooded glens 

 and extensive plantations, especially where there is cover from 

 underwood, though it generally frequents the higher trees : 

 hedge-rows too are occasionally visited. 



As a difference of opinion exists about this bird, (vide 

 note to Whitens Selborne, pp. 80 et seq., ed. 1837) I had in- 

 tended entering pretty fully into the subject ; but turning to 

 the description of the species in the ( Manual of the British 

 Vertebrata/ p. 112, I find it to accord so well with my speci- 

 mens,— which, from being shot in the month of April, when 

 uttering their notes, may be considered adults, — as to render 

 further observation unnecessary. 



The terms Syl. Hippolais, Lath., and chiff-chaff have been 

 correctly used as synonymous in the best British works. The 

 original description in the ' Index Ornithologicus ' (vol. ii. 

 p. 507.) in a few words marks the species ; Temminck how- 

 ever, in his valuable e ManueP of the Birds of Europe, (part i. 

 p. 222.) has adopted Lathanr's name for a continental Sylvia 

 very different from the one to which it was applied by this 

 author. 



Gold-crested Regulus, Sylvia Regulus, Lath. — This 

 small and beautiful bird is common, and resident in plan- 

 tations throughout Ireland. In the north its song is occa- 

 sionally commenced in the month of February, and has been 

 heard at the end of September. In the nuptial season the 

 male erects his crest so as to make his whole head appear a 

 blaze. My friend at Cromac on one occasion, when attending 

 to the process of nidification adopted by a chaffinch that built 

 within view of his window, discovered that he was not the only 

 spectator, a regulus at some little distance (and, as it after- 

 wards proved, with sinister intent,) being recognised as a 

 looker-on. When the chaffinch took flight from the nest, this 

 bird, in the most cunning manner, stole round to it in an 

 opposite direction and carried off part of the materials. This 



