106 WHITETHEOAT. 



times not before the 10th. of May. The males come over 

 about ten or twelve days before the females. They leave 

 again about the end of September. One was noticed in 

 Scotland by Mr. Weir on the 10th. of September. In Ireland 

 they usually arrive the beginning of May, but sometimes 

 earlier. Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, heard one near there on 

 the 23rd. of April, 1842, and another was observed at Cromac 

 on the 24th. of April, 1836; one near Carricfergus on the 

 21st. of April. Its earliest arrival noted in the county of 

 Wexford was the 1st. of May, and the latest the 21st. of 

 August; but one was seen near Belfast on the 15th. of Sep- 

 tember, 1837, and one was shot in December, 1843, at 

 Kaheny, near Dublin, by Mr. R. J. Montgomery. 



They are very lively and active in their habits, and somewhat, 

 though not very, shy, skuttling away into their cover on any 

 alarm: more than two are not seen together. They are easily 

 kept in confinement, but are said to grow less and less familiar 

 as they get older, even if reared from the nest. They delight 

 to mob cats if they make their appearance, and keep up the 

 note of alarm until they have retreated. Meyer mentions 

 one which, no doubt to attract him from its nest, which was 

 near, threw itself down the side of a bank, and then struggled 

 and shuffled along, keeping itself just out of reach, until it 

 finally flew away. 



Caterpillars, small beetles and other winged insects, and 

 the smaller fruits and berries currants, raspberries, goose- 

 berries, elderberries, cherries, and other such, compose their 

 food. The former as well as the latter are sought among 

 shrubs, bushes, and plants, and also at times pursued in the 

 air. Sand and other stony particles are found in considerable 

 quantity in the gizzard, to aid the digestion of the food. 



The song of this species, which is heard immediately after 

 its arrival, is quick and hurried: some of the notes, which 

 are few, and therefore often repeated, are sweet and pleasing, 

 though others are perhaps rather harsh. While singing lustily 

 the throat is distended, the crest rather raised, which indeed 

 is done at all times when the bird is excited, and the wings 

 and the tail frequently shaken. Sometimes it sings in the 

 air, hovering in an odd sort of flickering manner, occasionally 

 poising itself, or even rising in a fitful fanciful way over 

 and around the bush or tree from which it has arisen, and 

 into which it again descends, or flitting to some neighbouring 

 tree, from whence again it frequently returns; it also sings 



