344 CERTHIADvE. 



The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picus minor) is found from 

 Yorkshire southward in England (Yarr.), but is not known in Scotland. 



The Wryneck {Yunx Torquilla, Linn.). There is no record of 

 this species having ever been met with in Ireland. It is chiefly found in 

 the south-eastern counties of England, but also visits the western 

 and northern. It has rarely been seen in Scotland. On the 29th of 

 April, 1841, I saw one among some shrubby plants in the island of 

 Sphacteria, which bounds the western side of the fine bay of Navarino. 

 On the 25th of the same month, a wryneck, which alighted in H.M.S. 

 Beacon, when about sixty miles to the south-east of Calabria, was cap- 

 tured. 



The Nuthatch (Sitta europcea) sent to a bird-preserver in the 

 metropolis, was, on the same presumptive evidence as the green wood- 

 pecker, mentioned to me as an Irish bird ; but on inquiry it was found 

 to have been killed in Wales. This species is not known to have ever 

 visited Ireland ; it is said to be pretty generally distributed in England; 

 but not to be found in Scotland. (Jard. : Macgil.) 



THE TREE CREEPER. 



Certhia familiaris, Linn. 



Inhabits districts generally throughout Ireland in which 

 old wood prevails, and is everywhere resident. 



Owing to its habits, this is perhaps of all our native birds the least 

 known. To the ornithologist it is particularly interesting, from 

 being the only one of the zogodactyle birds indigenous to the 

 island ; its presence, too, throughout the winter is an additional 

 attraction. In the woods of the counties of Down, Antrim, and 

 Fermanagh,* this bird has occurred to me. It is found in the 

 north of the county of Donegal ; t about Dublin and Youghal ; % 

 is common in some parts, of Westmeath, and about Killaloe ; || in 

 Tipperary ; § and in Kerry.^f Mr. Poole remarks that the creeper 



* Here I have seen this bird close to the house at Florence Court ; and a friend 

 living near Belfast has observed it creeping up the yard-wall attached to his dwelling- 

 house. There is in reality nothing remarkable in such cases: they are mentioned, 

 as some persons imagine that the creeper never leaves the depth of woods. 

 | J. V. Stewart. \ Ball. || Rev. T. Knox. 



§ Davis. \ Neligan. 



