232 The Irish Nahiralist. [October, 



Saxlcola oenanthe, Liun. Wheatrar.— Common summer migrant. 

 Breeds among the saud-holes of the North Bull. This bird is dis- 

 tinguishable from other passerine birds by the conspicuous white 

 patch at the base of its tail, and its peculiar habit of flying along the 

 tops of stone walls, rocks, etc. Hence its generic name. 



lYIotacilla lugubris, Temm. Pied Wagtait,.— Resident and com- 

 mon. Often collects into large flocks in autumn and winter. 

 Characters familiar. 



Anthus pratensis, Linn. Meadow Tipit, " TitIvArk."— Plentiful all 



the year round about the grass and sand-dunes of the North Bull, 



where it breeds. 

 A. obscurus, Lath. Rock Pipit.— Frequent about the rocks of the 



Bull Wall. Distinguished from A. pratensis by its darker colour and 



larger size. 

 Alauda arvensis, Linn. Sky-Lark.— Common all the year round, 



breeding in the grass and sand-dunes. Characters familiar. 

 Plcctr-ophancs nivalis, Linn. Snow Bunting.— Regular winter 



visitor in small numbers. Habits gregarious. Distinguished when 



flying from other small birds by the beautiful white wings. Mr. E. 



Williams informs me he has seen 150 birds in a flock. 

 Sturnus vulg'aris, Linn. Stari^ing. — Common about the grassy 



slopes and sandhills. Characters familiar. 

 Corvus f rugrileg^us, Linn. Rook. — Common at all times. Characters 



familiar. 

 C. monedula, Linn, Daw. — Common at all times. Characters 



familiar. 

 Hirundo rustica, Linn. Swai,i,ow. — Plentiful in the summer. 



Characters familiar. 

 H. urtoica, Linn. House-Martin. — Common in the summer, but less 



plentiful than the Swallow, from which it may be distinguished 



flying by its smaller size, and white patch over the tail. 

 Cotile riparia, Linn. Sand-Mart-in. — Common in the summer, but 



less plentiful than the last species. Distinguished by its inferior 



size and chestnut brown back. 



Order PICARI^. 



Cypselus apus, Linn. vSwift.— Common in the summer, leaving the 

 country about the end of August. 



CapriiYiuIgus curopaeus, Linn. Night-jar. — Rare summer visitor, 

 but has been obtained on different occasions from the North Bull 

 (Williams). Habits nocturnal. Distinguished from all the owl 

 family by its small size and more proportionate length of tail. 

 The voice when produced at once characterizes this bird. 



Alcedo Ispida, Linn. Kingfisher.— A few have occurred at the 

 entrance of a small stream into the salt-water channel which runs 

 up the mud-slobs of the North Bull. Its splendid tropical plumage 

 at once distinguishes it from all other Irish birds. 



