OUBLIK NATUKAL U18T0BY SOCIETY. 97 



the cow-pargiiip, or on some bush slightly hieher than the rest of the hedf^e : ho 

 b not a very common bird about Donoybrook. Tho black-headed bunting ha« 

 a very feeble, harsh song ; he commences about a fortnight or three weeks later 

 than the last, and ceases as soon as tho breeding season is over ; he sings either 

 on the top of a high tree, or in a bunch of rushes ; he sings also at night. The 

 vollowhammcr (E. citrinella)has the same range of season as the common bant- 

 ing, and sings either from a bush or a wall, or from a high bank ; he, too, sings 

 at noun ; the sung is shorter, but not ho harsh ; it was in song on 25th January, 

 1852. The linnets found about Donnybrook are three (L. minor, montium, and 

 cannabina) ; but, owing to their not being regular permanent residents there, I 

 cannot speak fully about them : they are all generally in song about the second 

 week in February, and cease to sing in June or July ; they all sing from an ele- 

 vation. The greenfinch (C. chloris) generally begins his discordant song in the 

 latter end of February, and ends it in June, but may occasionally be heard in 

 August and September ; it usually, at least in the commencement of the year, 

 sings in concert ; they always sing from a height, and, as well as the true linnet, 

 may be heard in autumn recording for hours. The only other native songsters 

 heard about Donnybrook are three — the common starling (S. vulgaris), which 

 sings from the beginning of Januarv to the latter end of May, and chooses some 

 elevated spot for his orchestra. The woodlark (A. arborea).— This bird I had 

 the good fortune to come across only during one season — that of 1851, and he 

 commenced his song in the middle of February, and ceased in the beginning of 

 June. 1 remarked that he sung on wing, not rising up into the sky in rapid 

 spires, like the skylark, but, sweeping round in wide circles, he ended his song 

 on the ground. Whether this is its common method of singing or not, I do not 

 know, as it never bred in Donnybrook to my knowledge since. The stonechat 

 (S. rubicola) — This bird conducts us to the migratory birds; as the same re- 

 marks apply to it and to its allies, the whinchat and wheat-ear (S. rubetra and 

 S. oenanthe). The latter is not a resident in Donnybrook, only visiting us at its 

 entrance into and departure from this country. It is, however, very common 

 about Bohernabreena ; so that I have had copious opportunities of watching its 

 habits. They all generally begin their song, which is short, in the first week of 

 April ; though on one occasion I heard the whinchat and stonechat both in song 

 on Patrick's Day. They cease to sing before the end of June. They sing either 

 on a bush or on wing, rising for a short distance into the air. As the whinchat 

 is supposed to be only a summer visitant, I might as well mention that I have 

 killed or observed this bird in the months of October, September, and Febru- 

 ary. The chiffchaff (Sa. rufa) generally arrives here the latter end of March, 

 and sings as soon as he comes. The earliest date I ever observed him was the 

 10th March, 1849, near Templeogue, and I find him noted in every month until 

 the 15th of September. The song is delivered from some bush or tree, but gene- 

 rally among tne branches, about middle height from the ground. It has two 

 songs, X)ne of which is peculiar to the breeding season, the other to the remain- 

 der of his sojourn here. The lesser willow-wren (S. trochilus) arrives here a 

 fortnight or three weeks later than the last, and ceases to sing about the end of 

 July. He sings either on the topmost boughs or on wing ; his song is much more 

 prolonged than that of Syl. rufa. This bird sings with its bill closed, similarly 

 to the robin. I have only remarked this trait while he was feeding. The white- 

 throat (C. cinerea) arrives here in the beginning of the month of May, and sings 

 till August, with an interval of three weeks in July. Its song is a melancholy 

 wail, intermixed with a queer scolding note : it sings thus : rising from the t op 

 of some bush, with a great deal of action, fluttering wings, &c., it takes a short 

 flight upwards, and then, wheeling back to the point it started from, it ends its 

 song perched. The earliest record I have of it is the 2nd of May, and the latest 

 the 29th August, 1850. The three swallows (H. urbica, rustica, riparia) all 

 make an attempt at song. They generally do not commence their song till three 

 weeks after their arrival in this country, which usually takes place at this side 

 of the Bay in the following order :— The sandroartin last week in March, or first 



