22 Mr. Thompson on the Birch of Ireland. 



"Wood Wren? Sylvia sibilatrix? Bechst. — Relying on 



the accuracy of a relative, who has bestowed much at- 

 tention on birds and their nests. I should be disposed to 

 give this species a place here with confidence bul for one 

 character; hereafter to be mentioned. On June 19, lft.32, it 

 is remarked of a nest he detected on the ground in a small 

 meadow surrounded by a wooded glen, near Belfast, that it 

 belonged to a bud most nearly approaching the willow wren, 

 S. Trochilus, but larger, and with a whiter breast; and that 

 the eggs, instead of being marked with numerous very minute, 

 and a few large specks of a dark pink colour, like those of the 

 S. Trochilus, were dotted all over, so much so as to give the 

 egg, at a cursory view, a light brown appearance. Sketches 

 of these eggs and of those of the willow wren, made at the 

 time, are now before me, and present the difference here 

 pointed out. He observes that it was a very pretty nest, 

 formed of moss, and lined with feathers*. On the morning 

 of the 1 9th of June it contained one egg, on the 2 1 st three, 

 and on the 24th five eggs ; on July 7th the young were 

 hatched, and on the 19th had left the nest : thus in six days 

 the complement of eggs was laid, in thirteen they were incu- 

 bated, and in eleven or twelve days the young were fledged. 

 There was a second nest at the same place (Wolfhill) this 

 season, containing similar eggs. 



The S. sibilatrix is not recorded as Irish. 



The Willow Wrex, Sylvia Trochilus, Lath., — Is a 

 regular summer visitant to Ireland, and is commonly di- 

 spersed in suitable localities throughout the country. The 

 remark has been made by Montagu, that i( it is frequently 

 found with the wood wren, but does not extend so far to the 

 west in England, as it is rarely met with in Cornwall. 3 * 

 But if there be thus a diminution of numbers to the west in 

 England, the circumstance must, I presume, arise from some 

 other cause than geographical position. In Ireland the wil- 



corrcspondents residing in the more southern portion of the country are 

 disposed to consider the S. Curruca one of the regular summer birds of 

 passage. 



* This is the only character against its being that of the S. sibilatrix, 

 whose nest is stated by authors to differ from that of the 6'. Trochilus in 

 not being lined with feathers. 



