210 



PARIDjE. 



When my observations on this species were published in 1838, it 

 had not been met with in the province of Munster, by any of my 

 correspondents resident there, but since that period has been 

 noticed. Its distribution from north to south is now known, as 

 follows : — In the north-west of Donegal, it has been seen ; but 

 very rarely,* In Londonderry, the bird is not only said to occur, 

 as already mentioned, but to be more frequent than the common 

 species, the blue titmouse !f — which must be incorrect. In 

 Antrim, it has been once seen at Claggan, and at Portglenone : 

 from the latter place one was sent to Belfast, in January, 1837, 

 as a bird never before observed by persons accustomed to shoot 

 in that neighbourhood ; six or seven of them were together : 

 in ShaneVCastle Park I saw a few in May, 1838. Its num- 

 bers would seem of late years to have increased considerably 

 throughout the north, where the species occurred only twice to the 

 late Mr. Templeton. Within several miles around Belfast, in 

 Antrim and Down, this bird, for a number of years, has been met 

 with, wherever there is a sufficiently great extent of wood, this 

 being apparently the only essential requisite to its presence. It 

 alike inhabits the plantations of the mountain glen, with its 

 rocks and din of cascades ; those around the beautiful seats which 

 adorn the shores of the bay, and those ornamenting the most 

 improved demesnes in the rich and highly cultivated valley of 

 the Lagan. In Tollymore Park (Down), these birds were first 

 observed by the gamekeeper in 1836. Specimens from Fer- 

 managh have come under my inspection. It inhabits the county 

 of Meath; has been seen about Portumna, on the borders of 

 Galway ; and is said to breed in the small islands of the Conne- 

 mara lakes. § In the neighbourhood of Dublin tins bird has come 

 under my own notice, and is considered, by Mr. R. Ball, as not un- 

 common there; but around Youghal, in the county of Cork — his for- 

 mer place of residence — he never met with it. The species is not 

 uncommon near Cahir, and frequents the woods about Ballibrado, 



* Mr. J. V. Stewart. f Sampson's Londonderry. 

 § M'Calla. 



