( 459 ) 



DISAPPEARANCE OP MANY OF OUR HOME-BRED 

 BIRDS IN AUTUMN. 



By Robert Warren. 



The disappearance from their usual haunts of many of our 

 home-bred birds in September and October is so remarkable that 

 I think it worth noting, as it may prove of some interest to those 

 who study the movements of our small birds, notably Chaf- 

 finches, Greenfinches, and Yellowhammers. I have from time to 

 time noticed their scarcity in their usual haunts, but, thinking 

 that they had only moved for better feeding to the stubble-fields, 

 took no further notice ; while being engaged with, and my entire 

 attention taken up with our late and frequently wet harvest in 

 September and October (often delayed up to the end of the latter 

 month), I did not look after them. After the corn, &c, was 

 secured in the stack-yards, I devoted any leisure I had to wild- 

 fowl-shooting, and the observation of the waders and swimming 

 birds of the estuary and bay. 



This total absence of the three above-named species first 

 attracted my attention in the middle of October, 1892, when on a 

 visit to the Co. Cork; for, on revisiting the familiar scenes of 

 my boyhood, wherever I walked, I was surprised at seeing no 

 small birds, where I formerly saw plenty, and in districts famed 

 for their numbers and variety. On a three miles' walk from 

 Monkstown by Shanbally, and Coolmore to Carrigaline Church, 

 and, after service, returning by another line of road — by Rafeen 

 to Monkstown — not a Chaffinch, Greenfinch, or Yellowhammer 

 appeared in sight. Some days after, when returning from 

 Queenstown to Cork, I left the train at the "Little Island" 

 Station, and walked about the district for a couple of hours, 

 along some fine demesnes, and roads with hedgerows especially 

 suited for the haunts of small birds ; but not one appeared, the 

 district being as bare of bird-life as that near Carrigaline. 



This state of things appeared to me so very remarkable that I 



2 n 2 



