BIRDS OF N.W. WALES AND IRELAND. 179 



Crossbill. — W. An irregular winter visitor, said to have 

 nested once in Carnarvonshire. I. Much more common and 

 resident ; believed to nest in both counties. 



Cirl Bunting. — W. Occurs in many scattered localities, and 

 is resident. I. Unknown, except by report of one seen. 



Starling. — W. Very numerous, resident, and increasing. 

 Migrational movements on a large scale occur on the west coast 

 between autumn and spring. I. Numerous and increasing, but 

 only established as a breeding species within comparatively 

 recent years. Its numbers are greatly swelled in winter by im- 

 migrants. 



Carrion Crow. — W. Extremely numerous in the mountainous 

 districts, especially in Merioneth, where it is to a great extent 

 gregarious. I. Almost unknown in Ireland ; a very few may 

 survive on the coasts of Cork and Mayo. 



Hooded Crow. — W. A rare casual winter visitor, and par- 

 ticularly scarce on the west coast. I. The Crow of Ireland, 

 common and resident, breeding in both counties. 



Jay. — W. Generally distributed and common in wooded dis- 

 tricts unless its numbers are artificially reduced. I. Very local ; 

 breeds in increasing numbers in West Wexford, but rare in 

 Wicklow and Dublin. Its range is almost confined to certain 

 river basins. Outside this area it is practically unknown. 



Chough. — W. Formerly common, and used to breed all along 

 the coast, but is decreasing rapidly. Most of its old haunts are 

 deserted, so that it is now almost confined to certain parts 

 where the coast is precipitous. It bred in Merioneth and 

 Anglesey up to quite recent years, and there are possibly still a 

 very few pairs on those coasts. I. Used to breed on the coasts 

 of Wexford and Dublin, but has ceased to do so. It is still 

 common, however, in many other parts of Ireland. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker. — W. Fairly common and 

 generally distributed in wooded districts. I. An accidental 

 straggler only, recorded twice in Wicklow and twice in Dublin. 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. — W. Kather rare and local. 

 Occurs in East Merioneth, but not on the west coast. I. Two 

 recorded in Wicklow many years ago, none since. No specimen 

 exists. 



Green Woodpecker. — W. Occurs throughout the district ; 



p2 



