ii8 The Irish Natnralist. [April, 



breeding in large communities instead of in single pairs, as is so much 

 the case on our western coasts, I invariably found their nests under 

 boulders with which the low islets off the main islands were strewn. 

 The high boulder-beaches were the favourite places, and in seeking the 

 eggs, which we had to do from a commissariat point of view, we found it 

 necessary to reach in arm's length between the boulders before reaching 

 their nests. 



W. S. Green, Dublin. 



Feathered Pensioners.— Wintry weather with its accompani- 

 ments of frost and snow always brings the needs of our birds specially to 

 our notice, and a few notes upon our feathered pensioners and their ways 

 ways may perhaps prove worth recording. The winter of 1894-95 was more 

 trying upon our birds than any year since the bitter frost of 1878-9, when 

 Blackbirds, a Gold-crest, and many Titmice came into our bedrooms, in 

 addition to the Robin who habitually frequented the room, eating groats 

 from a dish on the chimney-piece, and drinking out of the water-jug. 

 Those long snowy weeks were very fatal to the songsters, and the 

 diminution in Blackbirds and Song-thrushes was noticeable for years 

 afterwards; Rooks turned carnivorous, and were seen to attack and 

 devour the smaller birds at Carnlough, and about Lisburn ; an old 

 nurse who had spent many years in America, saw what she believed 

 to be a " Snowbird." Another day we saw a strange bird with a 

 scarlet crest, which it could erect and depress at will, feeding on the 

 balcony ; it may have been an escaped Cardinal-bird. The general 

 rejoicing when at last the thaw came, and green grass w^as revealed 

 once more, was wonderful. Curlews coming and feeding on our 

 lawn, which no doubt was more rapidly cleared owing to the close 

 proximity of the sea. Opposite our diningroom stands a Laburnum-tree 

 covered with pods, the favourite winter resort of the Finches and Titmice : 

 that winter it was frequented by a handsome Mountain-finch, or Bram- 

 blincr {^Fringilla montifringilla) who remained for a couple of da3's only, 

 but last winter we again had one or two of these beautiful birds feeding 

 there for several days. I remember that bitter winter counting sevent}' 

 Starlino"s crowded on the tree, shelling the pods, with a watchful e3'e on 

 our windows, and a firm determination not to lose a moment in attacking 

 any contributions from our table — for Starlings are more than a little 

 greedy ! It is very interesting to split a cocoa-nut, and fastening it to 

 the railing of a balcony watch the Coal Tits, Blue Tits, and Greater Tits 

 hammering away at its contents. After some years the Robins ventured 

 to try the unwonted food, and now Sparrows and Blackbirds dig awaj- 

 contentedly, also. We always provide plenty of groats and hemp, but 

 the most interesting study is to put out some new kind of food, and see 

 in what order the birds attack it. Some years ago a whole loaf was tossed 

 upon the snow, and it was ludicrous to watch the famishing Sparrows 

 hopping anxiously round it, with outstretched necks and eager glances^ 

 doubtful whether some trap were not intended, whilat the Rooks cawed 



