240 emberizidjE. 



Since the preceding was written, snow-buntings have become 

 greatly more numerous in the vicinity of Belfast. By the " new 

 cut" in the channel of the river adjacent to the quays, an extensive 

 bank is left insulated, and being covered with a profuse growth of 

 Atriplex patula and Chrysanthemum lencanthemum, these birds 

 have, notwithstanding its proximity to a large town, come in great 

 numbers to it at the beginning of every winter for a few years 

 past. They remain there during the whole of that season, in all 

 kinds of weather, and until early in spring, when they take their 

 departure north-wards. In the winter of 1843-44, the plants 

 just named covered this tract — called Dargan's Island — and these 

 birds were remarkably abundant, about a thousand appearing in 

 one flock. The island having since been partially levelled and 

 sown with grass-seed, they have visited it in much smaller num- 

 bers, but from 200 to 300 have been seen there in a flock in the 

 winter of 1845-46. In consequence of this " preserve," the 

 species has been greatly more common than formerly about the 

 shores of Belfast bay, where the short grassy margin is their 

 favourite haunt. They are naturally easy of approach, allow 

 one to come within a few yards of them, but become wild after 

 continued persecution. Some adult males are always to be seen 

 in the earliest large flocks that appear. 



Immense numbers came to the main-land opposite Bough Island, 

 Strangford, at the beginning of winter 1844-45, and throughout 

 a range of several miles, committed great devastation by picking 

 up the sown wheat, which they got at, along the edges of the 

 ridges. The farmers were literally up in arms against them, and 

 killed many, but the birds eventually became so wild, as not to 

 admit of approach. They had never been seen there before, and 

 were looked upon as some foreign species, that came to destroy 

 the wheat crop, by picking the seed from the ground. They re- 

 mained from early in November, until the beginning of March. 

 About the shores of Dublin bay, these birds are often met 

 with during winter, and sometimes in great numbers. The snow- 

 bunting, by thus frequenting the mountain-top and the sea-side, 

 reminds us of certain plants which are only found in either locality. 



