68 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



though sometimes in company with other small insectivorous 

 birds. 



POLIOPTILA c^RULEA (Sclat.) Bluc-gray Gnat-catcher. — The 

 earliest note I have of its arrival is the 1st of April. I think the 

 males come a little before the females. They remain until autumn, 

 and build a beautiful, thick, felt-like nest, strikingly resembling 

 that of the ruby-throated humming-bird, only of course larger ; 

 the rim, however, is not turned in as in the humming-bird's nest. 

 I have sat, watch in hand, looking at it feeding its young, and 

 found the same bird return about every two minutes ; but insects 

 were abundant, and it never had to go far — indeed, it was generally 

 in sight all the time. 



LoPHOPHANES BicoLOR (Bonap.) Tufted Tit— This bird is very 

 abundant, the most so I think of the Tit family, being found 

 commonly all the year, but especially in spring and summer, 

 arriving in numbers about the middle of February. In summer 

 it is found chiefly among deciduous trees, in winter it seems to 

 prefer the shelter of the pine woods. I have found it building in 

 holes in trees, at some height from the ground. Its call-note 

 is a clear whistle ; its note of alarm resembles " is-is-ha is-ha- 

 ah-ah." 



Parus carolinensis (Aud.) Carolina Tit. — It is a permanent 

 resident, and common throughout the year, but still I believe a 

 partial migrant. It very much resembles the English cole tit, 

 both in habit, and general effect. It is a busy, fussy little bird, 

 scolding and chattering at an intruder in its haunts, and busily 

 searching for insects all the time. It generally selects for its 

 nest some old deserted hole of the downy woodpecker, so common 

 in decayed timber by the river sides. 



SiTTA CAROLINENSIS (Lath.) Wliite-helUed Nuthatch.— Com- 

 mon throughout the whole year. In early spring their courtship is 

 very amusing. I have seen as early as the 18th February, two 

 or even more males, following one female, up and down the tree 

 stems, and round and round, with their tails spread out to the 

 utmost, and performing all sorts of strange antics ; but I have 

 never seen them fight for the possession of the fair one, as many 

 birds do. Yet this nuthatch is by no means deficient in courage; 

 for I have seen it attack a Blue-bird, who is generally well able 

 to take care of himself, and snatch from it a large white grub 



