208 paridjE. 



the two species in Ireland is very different. To a few only of my 

 correspondents is the latter known with certainty, but all who 

 have bestowed attention on the subject, attest the presence of the 

 coal titmouse in their respective counties, viz., Donegal, Clare, 

 Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Wexford, and Dublin. In the north 

 generally, and wherever I have been in suitable localities through- 

 out the country, this bird has commonly occurred. It is interesting 

 in spring to listen to the notes or song of the great, the blue, and 

 the coal titmouse, all having a family resemblance, but each well 

 known from the other by the ornithologist, — 



" By him who muses through the woods at noon." 



Towards the end of August, after a long silence, we may some- 

 times hear the notes of the Varus ater renewed. 



Seeds as well as insects, &c, form a portion of its food. In a 

 plantation consisting chiefly of the common pine (Pinus sylvestris) 

 and the alder, I observed for a considerable time in the middle of 

 December, some of these birds accompanied by the gold-crested 

 regulus and lesser redpole {Fringitta Linaria). They were all 

 occupied in flying from one alder to another, and were intent on 

 procuring the seed of this tree only. The various attitudes of these 

 three beautiful species were highly interesting, as clinging only 

 to the light bunches of pendent seed, they were not stationary for 

 a single moment. To observe a troop of titmice comprising three 

 or four species, in addition to the gold-crested regulus, and occa- 

 sionally one or two others of our smallest birds, moving about in 

 company, now pausing as if to display their graceful attitudes on 

 plantations with the esprit du corps of one species, has always 

 been to me, but especially in the depth of winter, a source of 

 much attraction : at such times their shrill little notes, evidently 

 more than sight, serve to keep them together. When in Colin 

 Glen on the 19th of November, 1833, I saw, as a matter of 

 course, the gold-crested regulus, the blue and coal titmice in 

 company. I was amused on observing both species of Parus 

 cling to the centre of the under side of the leaves of the 

 sycamore {Acer Pseudo-Platanus) still attached to the trees, and 



