20 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland, 



gnlar, that of the occurrence of the blackcap on the few occa- 

 sions here mentioned, it must in three instances be presumed 

 to have wintered in Ireland, and further, that such should 

 have been in the north; the centre (as to latitude), and the 

 south. Being one of the latest summer birds appearing in 

 England, it may I think be fairly concluded that the occur- 

 rence of an individual on the 1st of March is rather indicative 

 of a winter residence than of an unprecedentedly early vernal 

 migration. 



The bird described in Rutty' s Natural History of the County 

 of Dublin, vol. i. p. 317, as the " Blackcap," is obviously not 

 the Sylvia Atricapilla. 



Greater Pettychaps, Sylvia hortensis, Lath. — The fol- 

 lowing observations on this species are copied from the MS. 

 of the late John Templeton, Esq.: "On the 21st of May 

 1820, I had the pleasure of seeing this bird, to whose haunt 

 in my garden I was attracted by its pleasing melody. * * 

 It was not very shy, coming near enough to be distinctly seen, 

 but was extremely restless, flitting every moment from place 

 to place, and only stationary on the branch while it gave out 

 its song.* * The male continued to sing until the young were 

 reared, when his song ceased for about a fortnight ; then it was 

 again renewed, as I suppose on the construction of a second 

 nest." 



The Whitethroat, Sylvia cinerea, Lath., — Is a re- 

 gular summer visitant throughout Ireland. Like the sedge 

 warbler it appears about Belfast early in May, and has 

 been reported to me by Mr. James Garrett of Cromac, near 

 this town, as observed on the 24th of April* 1836 : by the same 

 gentleman also one was seen on the 15 th of September last, 

 the latest date on which I am aware of its having been re- 

 marked here. This bird is well known in Ireland. Mr. 

 Stewart observes that in Donegal it is iC common," a term that 

 may be generally applied to it in the north. 



In communications with which I have been favoured, it is 

 stated by the Rev. T. Knox to have been obtained by him at 



* On the 21st of this month it was once heard near Carrickfergus. 

 M'Skimmin's Carrickfergus, p. 354, 2nd ed. 



