Notes 47 



They were often in the branches of deciduous trees with an undergrowth of 

 shrubs, brambles, &c, amongst which they worked in and out and dropped 

 out of sight the moment observed. They do not remain in the same spot long, 

 and the only way to see them is to stay concealed till they conic to you (this 

 applies to many other birds), as otherwise they never give you a chance. 

 Where this pair was there is a good deal of shrubs and undergrowth of 

 brambles, &c, below the trees. The cock has rather an intense way of 

 singing, and it comes in a volley, and is very loud for so small a bird, and 

 has a resemblance to the song of the thrush and blackbird, but more 

 spasmodic and snatchy ; and the notes seem to burst out of him, and 

 when he gives a short song he generally flies off to another part of the 

 tree, or to another tree or shrub. The song ceased about 24th June. I 

 tried to find nest, but did not succeed ; I believe it was in a place I had 

 not access to.— J. Crosbie Smith, Monkstown, Co. Cork. 



White variety of the Sparrow (Passer domesticus) in Co. 

 Calway.-On the nth November, Mr. P. Collis Johnston, of Fohena, 

 Co. Galway, secured a very fine specimen of a white Sparrow, which can 

 be seen at the establishment of Messrs. Williams and Son, Dame-street, 

 Dublin.— J. H. Johnston, Armagh. 



Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) in Co. Cork.— In November, 

 1887, I heard the unusual sound at this season of the crackling of the fir 

 cones (in the heat of the summer the cones burst open with a crackling 

 sound and the seeds fly out). Though I had never seen a Crossbill before, 

 I said to myself " Crossbills," and sure enough when I looked up at the 

 fir-trees, I saw a lot of Crossbills at work on the cones. There must have 

 been hundreds, and they continued, on and off, about the district till the 

 spring, and remained, as far as I knew, till end of June, when I went 

 away and did not return till October, when they had all disappeared, and 

 I never observed any since. I knew of thirteen nests about the Monks- 

 town (Co. Cork) district, and I feel sure there were many others, as I saw 

 more birds than nests, and I also saw Crossbills at Ballybricken, Cool- 

 more, Currabinny, Carrigaline, &c. The nests were in the upper branches 

 of pines and firs, and were mostly on the outer end of the branch, and 

 were all inaccessible except to a very good climber, but I saw the parent 

 birds frequently about the trees and nests, and that satisfied me as to the 

 fact of their nesting. My own belief is that many birds are not so rare 

 as supposed, simply because we do not happen to see them, and as there 

 are so few observant ornithologists, many rare birds must pass unnoticed. 

 Some of the rarest birds that have visited our island were secured by 

 the merest accident, as one may see by the various accounts written on 

 the subject, and by what many know by their own experience. These 

 Crossbills were noticed by several other people. — J. Crosbie Smith, 

 Monkstown, Co. Cork. 



Supposed Woodpecker in Co. Duplin.— One day about the 

 middle of November, while driving between L,ucan and Knockmaroon, 

 Co. Dublin, I saw a black and white bird that was new to me. It flew 

 across the river Liffey and alighted on a tree in Woodlands demesne. On 

 describing it afterwards my husband said it was probably a woodpecker, 

 and after looking at the woodpeckers in the Science and Art Museum I 

 think there is no doubt that the bird was a woodpecker, but of which 

 species I am unable to say.— Jane W. Shackxeton, Lucan. 



Bittern (Botauris stellaris, L.) in Co. Wexford.— A Bittern was 

 shot, last March, near Drinagh, close to Wexford, by Mr Wheelock of 

 that town for preservation. I have been unable to see it. but it was seen 

 by Mr. J. H. Gurney of Keswick Hall, Norwich.— G. E. H. Barrett- 

 Hamii/ton, Kilmanock, New Ross. 



Little Auk in Co. Sligo.— When walking on the Enniscrone sands, 

 on November 19th, I picked up the remains of a Little Auk, Alcrguhts alle, 

 destroyed by the gulls. It was in a perfectly fresh state, however, and 

 had evidently come ashore but a few hours previously. Along the same 



