Dublin Natural History Society. 3963 



1822. This did not arise from the harshness of the season, for the winter of 1850 was 

 a great deal more severe than either of the other two, and yet we find him singing more 

 regularly than in the comparatively milder winter of 1851. White, in his compara- 

 tive list of the song-birds of Selborne, states that he ' sings all the year round, except 

 during frost.' Frosty weather does not affect his song in this country, as I have heard 

 him singing even during snow. The song is delivered from an elevation, and also 

 when flying. This bird possesses also a singular faculty of singing with the bill closed, 

 even with a worm between his mandibles — a faculty I have observed only in one other 

 native bird, viz., the lesser willow-wren. He is also one of our nocturnal warblers, ge- 

 nerally preferring a frosty moonlight night for this purpose. In the winter of 1847 we 

 had several such nights in close succession ; and a robin used to sing under my window 

 every night, beginning generally about twelve and ceasing at two. T have heard him 

 once or twice in the beginning of July. 



" The wren, though commencing later than the robin, is more regular as regards 

 the period of commencement of his song; once only, during the last five years, did he 

 commence earlier than the beginning of November. He sings most vigorously dur- 

 ing frosty weather, but is not at all so regular a daily singer as the robin, as he seldom 

 sings in open weather. In Scotland, Mr. Hepburn records that he does not sing in 

 winter ; and White says ' all through the winter, except in frost: ' — singularly enough, 

 the very time I have oftenest heard his song about Donnybrook. He sings generally, 

 if not always, from an elevation, using a great deal of action and with quivering wings. 

 His song ceases about the middle of June, but is sometimes continued into July ; the 

 earliest date I ever heard him was August 18, 1851. 



" The wagtails occasionally sing all through the winter, on fine days, but are not 

 such regular songsters as any of the others. For the most part they sing on the wing, 

 rising for a short distance into the air, and in summer and spring, even on a bush or 

 wall. Early in the season, they sing oftener on the ground than anywhere else. Their 

 song is continued late into summer, as they may be heard occasionally even as late as 

 the 20th of August. The earliest date I have heard them singing was the second 

 week in November. 



" The winter fauvette, or dunnock, is a more delicate bird than any of those yet 

 mentioned, and therefore not so regular in his song till spring. He delights in a soft, 

 drizzling morning, but may be heard also during frost ; I only once heard him singing 

 during high wind. He generally commences about the third or fourth week in No- 

 vember, and sings till about the second week in July ; in some seasons he does not 

 commence till the middle of January, this was the case in 1851. Early in the season 

 he chooses a low bush for his station while singing ; but as the season advances, he 

 mounts higher and higher, even to the lops of high trees ; in the height of the breeding 

 season he even sings on the wing. He is recorded as one of our night-singers, but I 

 have never heard him myself at that period. Mr. Hepburn states that in Scotland he 

 sings ' from the second week in February till the first in August, and occasionally in 

 winter and autumn.' White's record is, ' early in February till July 10.' 



" The next in order, if we look to regularity of period in commencing their song, 

 are the thrushes ; but it will be more convenient to consider first some of the other 

 songsters which, though more irregular, generally begin earlier. These are, the chaf- 

 finch, the tits, skylark and gold-crest. The first {Fringilla ccelebs), sings occasionally 

 on soft mornings, as, during the seven years over which these notes extend, I find him 

 recorded in every winter month except November, though the regular time for his song 



