242 emberizidjE. 



seen on Tory Island, off the north-west of Donegal, in August, 

 ,1845* 



On reading the opinion expressed by Sir Wm. Jardine, in his 

 edition of White's Selbome, t that there is a migration of bunt- 

 ings to Great Britain in winter, I thought it might be likewise 

 applicable to Ireland ; but on subsequent consideration, did not 

 feel altogether convinced that there is any increase to the number 

 of these birds bred in the country. The change from the sum- 

 mer to the winter haunts of the bunting, might lead to such a 

 supposition, as about the time that our winter birds of passage are 

 arriving, flocks of buntings make their appearance in localities, — 

 (often hedges along road-sides) — which, frequenting through the 

 winter, they leave on the genial approach of spring : so late as the 

 end of March, they occasionally remain congregated. Mr. J. E. 

 Garrett is inclined to believe in a migration, from the circumstance 

 that early every winter during his residence at Cromac, near Belfast, 

 flocks consisting of from one to two hundred birds appeared, and 

 continued until spring. They were to be seen every evening in a 

 plantation of Scotch elm trees, where they remained like grey lin- 

 nets for about an hour before retiring to roost in an adjoining shrub- 

 bery. A few pair only were seen about the place during summer. 



The song of the bunting may be heard in the north throughout 

 greater part of the year, including occasionally the months of 

 November and December. 



My observation is quite in accordance with that of White, 

 who, in his history of Selborne, remarks of the bunting, that 

 " in our woodland enclosed districts it is a rare bird."" It is 

 rather an inhabitant of the bare arable, than of the rich and wooded 

 parts of the country, and where some little portion of wildness 

 still exists, such as is implied in the common name of fow-bunting. 

 The ditch-bank run wild with " briars " or brambles (Eubi) has 

 more charms for this bird than the " neat trim-hedge," and within 

 the shelter of such humble underwood its nest is made. It also 

 builds frequently on the ground in meadows. J In severe frost 



* Mr. Hyudinan. 

 t It is not repeated in his subsequent work on Brit. Birds. \ Mr. J. 11. Garrett. 



