88 FRINGILLIDJE. 



The mistake was, however, rectified in a succeeding number 

 by Mr. Glennon, who clearly asserted the rights of the sedge 

 warbler, with justice, restoring it the melody which some ad- 

 mirer of the reed bunting had borrowed. 

 Indigenous. 



GENUS XLII PLECTROPHANES (SNOW BIRD). 



SPECIES 85 THE SNOW BUNTING. 



Plectrophanes nivalis. Myer. 

 Bruant de neige. Temm. 



Tawny Bunting. Mountain Bunting. 



THE SNOW BUNTING is, perhaps, the least known of the spe- 

 cies we have described, which may be accounted for by the 

 situations it frequents, and by occurring with us during 

 winter only. About the Dublin coast we may constantly 

 observe them, during that season, generally congregated in 

 small flocks of from ten to thirty. A favourite locality, which 

 is at all times frequented by them, is the road leading to the 

 Pigeon House Fort, where they associate with the sparrows 

 and chaffinches in examining the refuse of the road-side, and 

 when disturbed, whilst perching on the wall, they disappear 

 over the opposite side, and continue their flight for some dis- 

 tance, and again appear in a similar manner as the whinchat, 

 and occasionally the robin. 



When examining the "rejectamenta" of the tide, their habits 

 are very pleasing. Hopping like the sparrow, they advance 

 along the shore, carefully examining every thing about, and, 

 on being alarmed, the entire flock rise together, and show in 

 a beautiful manner the white markings of their wings and 

 tail. From the considerable variation between the plumage 

 of the adult and young, a great deal of confusion has existed 

 about the species ; the male, in the different stages of summer, 

 winter, and immature plumage, being described as snow, 

 tawny, and mountain bunting. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



GENUS XLIII. PYRRHULA (BULLFINCH). 



SPECIES 86 THE COMMON BULLFINCH. 



Pyrrhula vulgaris. Selby. 

 JBouvreuil commun. Temm. 



THE BULLFINCH occurs in very limited numbers over our 

 island, and in no locality in actual plenty. More common 

 about Dublin than the goldfinch, we have many times observed 



