88 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



From these observations it would appear that both feet and wings 

 are used in progression, the latter in mid-stream (when the bird almost 

 looked as it' it were flying), the wings doubtless being also of essential 

 use in preserving a proper balance in the water, probably acting like the 

 pectoral fins of the fish. The bird's progression along the bottom was 

 certainly by means of its feet alone. 



Like many water animals, the sensation in this bird appears blunted ; 

 at least, two of those I winged and afterwards captured sat coolly look- 

 ing at me, as though uninjured, without leaving their position, perking 

 and jerking their tails, and "checking" at me as unconcernedly as possible, 

 so tiiat, had I not had some confidence in my aim, I should certainly 

 have taken a second shot at them. The stomachs of all those I examined 

 contained only insect remains. 



This bird is extremely common in our mountain glens. I have 

 counted as many as ten broods in Saggart Slade, and, although called 

 an unsocial bird, it is to be always found in pairs. These certainly keep 

 apart, but many pairs will be met in favourable localities in a very 

 limited ai'ea. They keep nearly altogether to the glens. I saw the bird 

 but once below E-athfamham Bridge in the Dodder. This was at Dartry, 

 at the circular weir. Surely, the fearlessness and curious maimer of tMs 

 bird, the harmlessness of its habits, the adaptive power displayed — ^in the 

 elongated valve-like opening of the nostrils, the absence of gape-bristles, 

 the partial webs to its feet, the dense peculiar nature of the plumage, and 

 the general dissimilarity' between it and the other thrushes, form a groud 

 of characters which, taken in combination with the wild and romantic 

 nature of the scenes it mostly loves to frequent, ought to render this bird 

 as great a favourite with the field student as it generally is with the 

 fisher, plying his lonely task amidst its secluded haunts, and hailing as 

 an old acquaintance the tidy little white-breasted water-blackbird, as it 

 sits jerking and posturing on a rock amidst the boiling waters, swim- 

 ming on the eddying current, diving beneath the depths, chattering to 

 its mate, or enlivening the mountain glen with a simple but plaintive 

 strain to the fitting and appropriate accompaniment of the ceaseless 

 babble of the sparkling waters of the gushing mountain rill. 



The Honorary Secretary read a communication as follows : — 



DESCRIPTION OF A STARLIXG ROOST AT RATHKEALE, COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 

 BY G. HENRY XINAHAN, C.E. T. C. D., CORRESPONDING MEMBER, G.S.I. 



The following brief account of a starling roost at Rathkeale may be of 

 some interest to the Society, as a pendant to Mr. E. J. Montgomery's 

 paper, read at your last meeting. 



To the north-east of Rathkeale village, county of Limerick, there are 

 two lakes, the larger of which is called *' Doohyle Lough ;" at the east 

 side of this there is a marsh running E.N.E., and W.N.W. Last winter, 

 my work lying that way, I had occasion to pass it frequently. 



