1900.] Notes. 133 



not find its nest. The Jay lias lately appeared iu Lord Dunally's 

 demesne at Kilboy, near Nenagh. 



During the first fortnight of March flocks of Tits, Great Blue, Coal, and 

 Long-tailed, passed here ; many of them noisy in song, xlpparently 

 there were two kinds of Coal Tits, one with a clear blue-grey back, the 

 other oUve green. The blue-backed one appeared stronger and more 

 richly marked on the head. Are they distinct ? The large flocks of 

 Thrushes, Redwings, Fieldfares, and Lapwings, which were to be seen 

 in every field up to the middle of last month, have quite disappeared ; 

 and numerous Magpies and Reed Buntings arriving with the south- 

 east wind and milder temperature give preliminary warning that the 

 great spring migration is near. 



Nenagh. Michaei< G1.EESON. 



Reed Bunting^s on the Sea-beach. 



In my list of " Birds of Dublin Bay,'' published in Vol. vii., p. 229-239, 

 Irish Naturalist, I did not include the Reed Bunting {Eniberiza schaniclus') 

 not having observed it about that locality till this winter, when I 

 noticed it on four occasions. 



(i.) January 27, 1900. — Noticed a Reed Bunting hopping about on the 

 edge of a salt water drain close to the Dollymouut golf links. Full 

 winter plumage. Sex, male. 



(2 and 3.) February 25, 1900,) Noticed a male Reed Bunting on Doll}-- 

 February 28, 1900./ mount strand. 



The bird seen on these two dates was in full summer plumage. The 

 deciduary or marginal vernal moult having been completed, the head 

 was jet black, and the ring round the neck a beautiful clean white. 



(4.) March 4, 1900. — Noticed another male Reed Bunting in winter 

 plumage on the DoUymount strand. 



It is curious that all the records were of male birds, and that one 

 should have appeared iu full summer dress at so early a date. The 

 possibility of its being an old male retaining its nuptial plumage 

 throughout the year should not be lost sight of. Do Reed Buntings 

 often frequent the sea-beach 't 



Trmity College. Chari^ics J. Fatten. 



Nocturnal Habits of Grey Plover. 



In the dusk of the winter evenings on many occasions, especially 



during November and December, I noticed Grey Plover {Squaterola 



helvetica) feeding on the hard ribbed sand uncovered by ebb tide. They 



were generally noisy at the same time, pouring forth their plaintiff cry 



of alarm. When it became quite dark, and the moon shone out, I 



could see them still hunting for food. At night they seemed tamer than 



in daylight, often flying across me at 40 yards distance. ] have seen 



Grey Plover searching as actively for food in the daylight, but generally 



on soft grass or mud-slob in preference to hard ribbed sand. Do they 



prefer a change of diet at night ? From their constant active habits, it 



seems these birds require but little sleep. 



Chari,K3 J. Patten. 

 Trinity College. Dublin. 



