of the Birds of Ireland. 269 



and kingfisher meet " to drink at the same pool ;" but here 

 they did so. So soon as there was sufficient cover for the 

 water-hen (Gallinula chloropus), it, an unbidden but most 

 welcome guest, appeared and took up its permanent abode ; 

 a number of them frequently joining the poultry in the farm- 

 yard at their repast. The heron, as if conscious that his 

 deeds rendered him unwelcome, stealthily raised his "blue 

 bulk" aloft, and fled at our approach. The innocent and at- 

 tractive wagtails, both pied and grey, were, of course, always 

 to be seen about the pond. A couple of wild ducks and two 

 or three teal occasionally, at different seasons, became visit- 

 ants ; and once, early in October, a tufted duck {Fuligula 

 cristata) arrived, and after remaining a few days took its de- 

 parture, but returned, in company with two or three others 

 of the same species. These went off* several times, but re- 

 turne?d on each occasion with an increase to their numbers, 

 until above a dozen adorned the water with their presence. 

 During severe frost the woodcock was driven to the unfrozen 

 rill dripping into it beneath a dense mass of foliage ; and 

 the snipe, together with the jack-snipe, appeared along the 

 edge of the water. The titlark, too, visited it at such times. 

 In summer, the swallow, house-martin, sand-martin, and 

 swift, displayed their respective modes of flight in pursuit of 

 prey above the surface of the pond. The sedge-warbler 

 poured forth its imitative or mocking notes from the cover 

 on the banks, as did the willow-wren its simple song. This 

 bird was almost constantly to be seen ascending the branches 

 and twigs of the willow {Salix viminalis chiefly) that overhung 

 the water, for aphides and other insect prey. In winter, 

 lesser redpoles, in little flocks, were swayed gracefully about, 

 while extracting food from the light and pendant bunches of 

 the alder seed. Three species of tit {Parus major ^ coeruleus, 

 and ater), and the gold-crested regulus, appeared in lively 

 and varied attitudes on the larch and other trees. In winter, 

 also, and especially during frost, the wren and the hedge- 

 accentor were sure to be seen threading their modest way 

 among the entangled roots of the trees and brushwood, little 

 elevated above the surface of the water. 



So far only the pond and bordering foliage have been con- 



