280 Mr. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 



perched above, whose tune is not deserving the name of 

 song ; consisting only of two notes, the first repeated three 

 or four times, the last single and more sharp*," Reed-Spar- 

 row and Black-cap are the names commonly bestowed on 

 this bird in the north of Ireland. 



Yellow Bunting, Emberiza Citrinella, Linn. 

 This handsome bird, differing from the last-noticed species 

 in being a constant resident about the farm and the precincts 

 of the rural dwelling, is very well known in Ireland, over 

 which it is diffused in suitable localities. Its monotonous, 

 and to my ear, mournful song, is heard in mild weather 

 throughout much the greater part of the year. The nest, 

 from being placed in an open hedge or rather bare grassy 

 ditch-bank, is often easily discovered ; but a person who from 

 practical observation is well versed in the sites chosen by 

 birds for their nests, remarks, that he has more frequently 

 found that of the yellow bunting in whins than elsewhere. 

 In a friend's garden near Belfast, a pair of these birds built 

 their nest at the edge of a gravel-walk, and brought out four 

 young, three of which were soon destroyed. In consequence 

 of this, the nest containing the fourth was for greater safety 

 placed in a bank a few^ feet distant, and the single young one 

 was so well provided by its parents with food as quickly to 

 grow to an extraordinary size. A similar fact in the case of 

 the redbreast is mentioned in one of the preceding papers 

 of this series ; but in that instance the young one died, it was 

 presumed, from over-feeding. The stomachs of such of these 

 birds as have come under my observation in winter, generally 

 contained grain. Yellow Yorlin is the common name be- 

 stowed on this species in the north of Ireland. 



The Chaffinch, Fringilla Coelebs, Linn., 



Is a common resident species throughout the cultivated 

 and wooded parts of Ireland. It frequents the squares and 

 gardens of the town, where occasionally its song is heard. 

 The beauty of the nest of this bird, with lichens and moss 

 intermingled in its formation, has often been commented on, 

 and truly it is a very picturesque object ; but the lichen is in 

 many localities of necessity left out, and the moss becomes 

 externally the component material. Particular notes of seve- 

 ral nests are before me, all of which, except one that was built 

 in a whin, were placed on the bi'anches of trees : one other 

 only is worthy of special notice. This came under the ob- 

 servation of my friend at Cromac, who reports it to have 

 * Ornithological Dictionary. 



