26 Nevin H. Foster on 



Family CERTHID^. 



Certhia familiaris britannica Ridfjwuy. British Tree-Ckeeper. 



Resident in small numbers. Average size of eggs 16 x I'i'Oti n)m. ; 

 average weight of full eggs 1 "177 gr., of empty shells iW^^ gr. 



Family REGULIDJ^l 



Regulus regulus (Linv/'). Goldcrest. 



This species — smallest of European birds — is resident and common. 

 The severe winter of 1916-17 practically exterminated it in the district, 

 l)ut it is again becoming very numerous. The nest is usually attached to 

 and hanging from the under side of a Douglas fSpruce branch but has beeii 

 observed far out on the top of a Yew branch and once on the top of a 

 Spruce branch close to the trunk. Average size of eggs 13'61 x 10"21 mm. ; 

 average weight of full eggs "74 gr., of empty shells O^'yl gr. 



Family PARIDyE. 



Parus major newtoni Prdzdk. British Great Titaiouse. 



Resident and common. Average size of eggs 18"22 x 13 '78 nun. ; 

 average weight of full eggs 1'843 gr., of empty shells '102 gr. 



Parus ater britannicus i^harpe cfe Dresser. British Coal-Titmouse. 



Resideiit and common. All the specimens obtained in the district 

 proved of this sub-species, and although closely looked for P. a. hiberuicus 

 has not been observed here. Average size of eggs 17 '86 x 12 "33 mm. ; 

 average weight of full eggs 1415 gr., of empty shells '0633 gr. 



Parus caeruleus obscurus Prazdk. British Blue Titmouse. 



Resident and by far the most numerous species of the Titmouse family 

 in the district. Average size of eggs lo'2 x 11 '52 mm. ; average weight of 

 full eggs r06 gr., of empty shells "0633 gr. 



/Egithalus caudatus roseus (Blyth). British Long-tailed Titmouse. 



Up till the severe Winter of 1916-17 this bird was resident and not 

 uncommon, but its presence since then has not been detected in the 

 district until November, 1920, when Mr. Horsbrugh saw two of these 

 birds in his garden. Although this bird generally builds its nest in a 

 shrub or bush within ten feet of the groimd, a nest has been noted in the 

 fork of a slender branch at an elevation of about 60 feet. 



Family LANID^. 



Lanius excubitor Linnd. Great Grey Shrike. 



Ussher records* a male of this species shot near Lisburn, in Co. Down, 

 27th December, 1886, which is the only note for this district of a bird of 

 the Shrike family. 



*Bir<h of Ireland, p. 44. 



