DUBLIN NATURAL UI8T011Y SOCIETY. 98 



drews would mention that some jrears since he had presented to the Society throe 

 specimens of the mottled species of the rock pigeon, obtained by him in the 

 month of August on the cliffs of Sybil Head, in the county of Kerry, and be at 

 the time stated the remarks of Mr. Blyth, that numbers of these birds, all 

 shot, were brought to the London market, and that Mr. Blyth was of opinion 

 that they were of a distinct race from the Columba livia. They more nearly ap- 

 proached to the stock dove (Columba cenas), but they differed from that species 

 Dy having the lower part of the back white, that in the stock pigeon being uni- 

 versally gray. Mr. Blyth had since been appointed Curator of the Asiatic So- 

 ciety's Museum, Calcutta, and in his drafts for a Fauna Indica, he, in describing 

 the Indian rock pigeon (Columba intermedia), from which the tame are derived, 

 as those of Europe are from C. livia, alludes to a race identical with the mottled 

 species noticed by him in England, and which are distinct from C. intermedia. 

 Mr. Blyth continues his assertion, that this wild rock pigeon of the South of 

 England is distinct, and may he designated C. affinis, while the rock pigeon ot 

 North Britain and of Europe generally is the true Columba livia. It is, how- 

 ever, a fact, that a zealous collector in Kerry, and an admirable ornithologist, 

 had never been able to procure a specimen of this mottled species, although at 

 all seasons having the best opportunities for seeking them. Mr. Andrews had 

 obtained the old and the young birds, and also the eggs of the storm petrel, ia 

 the Blasket Islands. These little birds breed twice in the season, in June, and 

 again in August ; they lav but one egg each. They are easily procured from 

 the holes among stones where they breed. An old and a young bird were kept 

 alive for more than a week by simply dipping a feather in sweet oil, and which 

 the birds eagerly ran their bills over, taking the oil. The old birds placed on 

 the table did not appear in the least alarmed on being handled. The Tiraght 

 Rock off the Blasket Islands, and the smaller Skellig Island, are the best loca- 

 lities on the south-west coast for the breeding of birds. In the former the shear- 

 water is met, in the latter the gannet. Those who can rough the variable wea- 

 ther of that coast would be much amused by a visit to those islands. The birds, 

 onaccustomed to visitors, are stupidly indifferent to their own safety. 



APRIL 8, 1853. 



ON THX AUTUMNAL SONG OF BIRDS. BY JOHN ROBERT KINAHAV, A.B PART L 



When I commenced this paper it was my intention to have confined myself 

 merely to a record of those birds which sing during the latter months of the 

 year, about Donnybrook, but on reviewing notes taken on this subject, I find it 

 impossible to separate them from their congeners, for in fact, as you will find, 

 most of our songsters sing nearly the whole year round. The remarks I would 

 now submit to you are an abstract of nearly daily records, extending over a period 

 of at least five, and, in some instances, seven years, and in everv case were made 

 by myself; and their value, if any, depends solely on this. With but few excep- 

 tions, which I have noted, they relate entirely to the birds of Donnybrook, and, 

 therefore, to a general naturalist are only useful as compared with similar re- 

 cords made in other quarters, as I, during the time I was making them, have 

 found a few miles sufficient entirely to alter my list. Our earliest songsters are 

 the robin, wren, pied and gray wagtail (Mot. Yarrellii and boarula), hedge fau- 

 vette (Act. modularis). Tnese commence their autumn song pretty much in the 

 order here set down. The robin (Erythaca rubecula) commences his autumn 

 song the second week in August, or first week in September. Twice during the 

 last five years do I find him noted before the former date, vir., on 1st August, 

 1851, and in 1852, when he commenced on the 7th August. He is, without ex- 

 ception, our most indefatigable songster. Every weather is alike to him ; son, 

 fog, frost, snow, wind, or rain. He sings all the year round, except about six 

 weeks in summer, i.e. from about the last week in June till the second week ia 



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