96 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Parus caudatus (Long-tailed Tit). This interesting bird, says Thompson, though 

 not well known in consequence of its retired and wooded haunts, has long been 

 recorded as indigenous to Ireland. I noticed a flock of these birds in Donny- 

 brouk, in the early part of last spring ; they were from eighteen to twenty in 

 number, and alighted on a horse-chesnut tree, within about three yards of my win- 

 dow, on the 17th of April, 1853. They were unaccompanied by any of the other 

 Pari, and I had a good opportunity of observing their manners as they quickly 

 searched every branch of the tree — uttering all the while their cheerful tweet. A 

 few of the birds had the fine roseate hue on their breasts. 



Montacilla flava (Rays Wagtail). According to Thompson, this bird can only 

 be announced as a summer visitant to one locality — viz., Lough Neagh ; and as of 

 occasional and rare occurrence elsewhere. I observed a pair of these birds on the 

 banks of the river Dodder, in the early part of the summer of 1853. The M. 

 hoarula was present at the same time, but even at a distance the difference was 

 clearly discernible. 



Alauda arborea (Woodlark), is a resident, though very local species. — Thomp- 

 son. Mr. Lamprey exhibited a pair of these birds, at a former meeting of the 

 Association, taken near the Vale of Ovoca, county Wicklow, during the severe 

 weather which occurred about Christmas. 



Fringilla montifringilla (Brambling). Is a frequent, if not a regular, winter 

 visitant. — Thompson. In a letter received from Mr. Davis, on the 3rd of this 

 month (March), he states, that a flock of the above birds are in the neighbour- 

 hood of Clonmel. They resort to one spot in a demesne about one or one and 

 a-half miles from this (Clonmel), and are generally seen in the very tops of high 

 beech trees. 



Picus viridis (Green Woodpecker). A specimen of this very rare Irish bird was 

 forwarded to Dr. Ball, by Thomas Batt, Esq., shot on the 12th of January, in Derry. 

 This is one of the commonest of the English woodpeckers, and is found to the north 

 of Scotland, although not mentioned by Jardine or Macgilivray, being enume- 

 rated in Dr.W.B. Backie's Historia Naturalis Orcadensis, as occurring in Zetland. 

 Its stomach contained minute larva — doubtless taken from beneath the bark of 

 trees. This is the third well-authenticated occurrence of this species in Ireland. 

 It was exhibited at a former meeting of the Association.. 



Scolapax rusticola (Woodcock). A female specimen of this bird, with two 

 young ones, was forwarded to Dr. Ball, in the month of May, 1853, by James Pirn, 

 Esq., from Monkstown, and is another instance of this bird breeding in our island, 

 they are preserved, among the Irish collection, in the University Museum. 



Crex porzana (Spotted Crake). Mr. T. S. Walpole has, in his collection, a 

 specimen of this bird, shot at Kilbarry, County Waterford, some time in October, 

 1852 ; this was communicated to me in April, 1853, by Mr. Davis. This bird, says 

 Thompson, can only be announced with certainty as an occasional, though, probably, 

 a regular, summer visitant. 



Charadrius morinellus (Dotterel) is very rarely met with in Ireland. — Thompson. 

 In a letter frjm Mr. Davis, of the 26th October, 1853, he says, that on the 30th of 

 last month, he had a dotterel sent him, shot on the hills near this town (Clonmel). 

 This bird is very rare hereabouts ; and Mr. T. W. Warren exhibited, at a meeting 

 of this Association, a specimen of this bird, shot by Mr. Trumble, on one of the 

 highest mountains in Donegal, it was in company with some golden plover (Squat- 

 arola cinerca). 



Ibis Falcinellus (Glossy Ibis) is an occasional visitant, chiefly late in autumn or 

 early in winter. — Thompson. By a paragraph in a local paper (the Coleraine Chron.), 

 not always the safest guide in such cases, it would appear that a specimen of this bird 

 has been obtained in that neighbourhood. I wrote to Mr. W. Dogherty, in whose 

 possession the bird was, and have to thank him for the following particulars : — 

 " It was one of six which were seen on the banks of the River Bush, near Bush- 

 mills, in autumn last, and the specimen in question was the only one procured out 

 of the flock. It was kept alive for ten days, and fed on small fish ; but, being 

 wounded in the head, died at the expiration of that time. It is now stuffed ; it 

 appeared to be in full plumage ; colour, approaching to a beautiful green ; about 

 the size of a curlew ; legs very long, and bill long and curved." 



