1899.] Notes. 267 



BIRDS. 



Bird Records In Co. Tippcrary. 



Mr. Warren, to whose opinion I at once yield, thinks I am mistaken in 

 reporting the arrival of a Reed Warbler in the Co. Tipperary (see above, 

 page 185). On referring to my note-book I find I put a query after it, 

 'Reed Warbler or what else?" I had on a few occasions previously 

 seen a Warbler in the locality near the reedy shores of Lough Derg on 

 the Nenagh River, but more particularly last May, when I had a good 

 opportunity of a near examination with an opera glass. It certainly was 

 not a Sedge Warbler, a bird quite common here and well known to me, 

 although it resembled it generally in size and appearance. The general 

 colour was a warm brown above, but without any streaks or markings of 

 the Sedge Warbler; white on breast and stomach, with a surrounding 

 tawny tinge, and with a pale eye streak. 



I had no opportunity of catching it, if so inclined, even, and it certainly 

 appeared to be the same bird which had been pointed out to me in the 

 South of England as a Reed Warbler. 'Some weeks ago I noticed con- 

 sorting with a flock of Long-tailed and other Tits several very bright 

 yellow green-coloured small birds which resembled the Willow Wren, but 

 were much brighter. Has the Wood Wren been recorded from this 

 county, or would the Wood Wren be found in company with Tits ? 



Michaei, Gl^EKSON. 



Nenagh. 



Maternal Affection of Wild Birds and Vitality of 



some Eggs. 



Crossing one of our Antrim hills in the company of a friend, we came 

 to a piece of miry ground thickly studded with tumocks of grass. We 

 were stepping from one to another of these when, as my foot touched, 

 one of them, up rose a Snipe. Being much surprised, I drew back my foot 

 and remained motionless ; the bird had risen about eighteen inches, and 

 continued to hover over the spot with rapidly beating wing for over half 

 a minute— I could easily have caught her with my hand— then flew 

 ahead about a hundred yards and to a height of about thirty yards, when 

 she commenced to make that noise which has been described as bleating. 

 I had often heard it before, but not at so short a range or so long 

 continued. On parting the long fane glasses which rose to the height of 

 ten or twelve inches, we discovered the eggs, which they had completely 

 hidden from view. 



The eggs we took to compare with the previous ones taken in Down- 

 patrick marshes thirty years before. Finding them hard set I put them 

 in a basin of cold water, and placed them out of doors. On examining 

 them next day I found the chicks still living in the shells, after having 

 floated in cold water for over twelve hours. 



