Mr. Thompson on the Bi?*ds of Ireland, 193 



those around the beautiful seats which adorn the shores of 

 the bay and of the most highly improved demesnes in the 

 valley of the Lagan : a family of these birds appear particu- 

 larly interesting when flitting over the waters of the river and 

 about the overhanging trees that border it. When the beau- 

 tiful rosy hue of its breast is conspicuous, it adds much to the 

 attraction of this species. The first of these birds I ever saw 

 excited my attention by its peculiar note uttered when sta- 

 tionary, and though different from that of the others, had a 

 generic similarity which satisfied me that it must proceed from 

 some species of Parus. Its call when in motion is soft, thus 

 differing from the shrill little voices of some of the same ge- 

 nus, with with it seems less to consort than with the gold- 

 crested regulus. 



On May 13, 1832, my relative describes, as an amusing 

 spectacle, a pair of these birds, which he saw feeding seven 

 young ones, which having left the nest were clustered together 

 on the branch of a tree within the space of about six inches. 

 The manner in which a family of long-tailed titmice crowd 

 together for warmth during snow and in the cold wintry night 

 has been well described; (vide Habits of Birds, p. 60, and note 

 to p. 171 of White's Selborne, ed. 1837,) but that it is the ordi- 

 nary habit of the species, and not consequent on the piercing 

 breath of winter, is indicated in the following note from my 

 journal, under the date of July 5, 1833. Mr. Wm. Sinclaire 

 remarks, that some days ago he was much entertained by ob* 

 serving a family of about ten or twelve long-tailed titmice 

 going to roost in company, when each individual endeavoured 

 to get as near the middle of the group as possible, and that 

 enviable situation was no sooner attained by a few than those 

 from the outskirts used all their efforts to insinuate them- 

 selves between them, and foiled in this, next exerted their 

 powers to avoid being placed outside — in all respects just the 

 winter practice. A similar procedure on the part of the gold- 

 crested regulus is described by Mr. Herbert in a note to White's 

 Selborne, (p. 180, ed. 1837-)- So many as twenty long-tailed 

 titmice have twice been reported to me as seen in company. 

 The stomach of one, which came under my examination in the 

 month of January, was filled with insect food, of which some 

 Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 3. May 1838. o 



