158 sylviadjE. 



plumage of which was entirely of a cream-colour of one shade, 

 and the under pliunage of a paler hue. It had for a long time fre- 

 quented nursery grounds near Clonmel, where some dozen shots 

 were from time to time tired at it.; — a penalty for showing false 

 colours. As correctly remarked by Mr. Macgillivray, accidental 

 varieties of tlus species are extremely rare. The bill and legs of 

 the hedge-accentor are occasionally in this country, as well as- else- 

 where, covered with large excrescences, like those described in the 

 Magazine of Natural History, vol. vi. p. 154, and by the author 

 last named, p. £56. The stomach of one examined in January, 

 contained the seeds of vetches and fragments of stone. 



The Alpine Accentor {Accentor alpinus) has, in a very few in- 

 stances, been taken in England, but not as yet in Scotland or Ireland. 

 I have commonly met with it in the months of June and July, on the 

 perpetual snow of the lofty Alps of Switzerland, as towards the sum- 

 mit of Mount St. Gothard, the Grimsel, Col de Four, &c. ; single 

 birds, or a couple near to each other, but not in company, generally 

 appeared. 



THE REDBEEAST. 



Eobin. 



Erythaca rubecula, Linn, (sp.) 

 Motacilla „ „ 



Sylvia „ Lath. 



Is very common, and is resident. 



Well known as are its habits, a few notes illustrative of them, as 

 observed in the neighbourhood of Belfast may be selected ; and 

 first, with regard to its familiarity. In the very mild winter of 

 1831-32 a redbreast very frequently joined a friend and Iris lady 

 residing at Milltown in the Falls, at breakfast ; without invitation 

 it ate of the bread and butter on the table, and when not so em- 

 ployed, made itself quite at home by perching on the toasting- 

 fork at the fire. In summer it built in one of the out-houses, 

 and visited the kitchen daily ; its song was in August poured 

 forth in the hall. In this house, also, a redbreast once built its 



