24 Nevin H. Foster on 



Fringilla coelebs Linne. Chaffinch. 



Resident and probably the most abundant of our small birds, whose 

 song may be heard from the middle of February till about the end of June. 

 A specimen almost pure white in colour was shot a short distance from the 

 village a few years ago. Average size of eggs 18'98 x 14"12 ram. ; average 

 weight of full eggs 2"024 gr., of empty shells "1211 gr. 



Fringilla montifringilla Liiin^. Brambling. 



An irregular Winter visitant — a few probably visiting the district 

 nearly each year, when they may be found consorting with Chaffinches 

 generally in the neighbourhood of beech trees. 



Acanthis cannabina {Linni). Linnet. 



A not numerous resident. Average size of eggs 18'23 x 13'49 mm. ; 

 average weight of full eggs r667 gr. , of emptj' shells '08 gr. 



Acanthis linaria cabaret (/'. L. S. Miilkr). Lesser Redpoll. 



Resident in considerable numbers. A seasonal movement is observable, 

 most of these birds deserting the higher parts of the district in Autumn 

 and spending the Winter in the lower lying portions. Average size of eggs 

 16*16 X 12*22 mm. ; average weight of full eggs 1*289 gr., of empty sliells 

 •0643 gr. 



Acanthis flavirostris (Linne). Twite. 



Resident in small numbers but usually keeping to the liigher Ij'ing 

 portions of tlie district, i.e., Drumlough Moss, where it breeds among the 

 ling (Calluna vulgaris). Average size of eggs 17*1 x 13*24 mm. ; average 

 weight of full eggs 1 *396 gr., of empty shells '0833 gr. 



Pyrrhula pyrrhula pileata MacGillivray. British Bullfinch. 



A not unconnuon resident, doiiig a considerable amount of damage to 

 the buds of fruit trees in Spring but later destroying seeds of noxious 

 weeds. Average size of eggs 1866 x 13*55 nnn. ; average weight of full 

 eggs 1*813 gr., of empty shells "US gr. 



Loxia curvirostra Linne. Crossbill. 



Thompson records* this bird from Hillsborough Park in January and 

 February, 1838. It is probable that Crossbills bred here in 1901 as a 

 small party was observed for several months in the early Summer 

 frequenting a plantation of Douglas Spruces in the Park. A flock of 

 about a dozen was seen feeding on the seeds of the Douglas Spruce in 

 July, 1909, and Crossbills were noted several times in the succeeding 

 Autumn and Winter. It appears to be here as elsewhere in Ireland a 

 somewhat erratic visitant. 



[On the evening of 12th June, 1920, and on the following morning 

 a bird was observed feeding among potatoes, &c., in some of the gardens 

 at the south end of the village. The writer had only a momentary vision 

 of it, but others saw it for longer or shorter periods. The bird appears to 

 have been the Dominican Cardinal, Paroaria larvata Boddaerf, a 

 native of Brazil, which is imported in considerable numbers to this country 

 and kept in confinement, from which undoubtedly this bird had escaped. 

 It is the " Pope" of dealers.] 



'J^at. Hist, of Ireland, \o\. I. p. 278. 



