Mr. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 227 



ing ; — the picturesque grotto with its ivy-mantled entrance and 

 gushing spring ; the gracefully reclining, though headless white mar- 

 ble statue of the nymph ; the sides of the grotto covered with the 

 exquisitely beautiful maiden-hair fern in the richest luxuriance ; the 

 wilderness of wild -flowers around the exterior, attracting the bees 

 on which the Merops was feeding ; and over all, the deep blue sky of 

 Rome completing the picture. 



In the 8th volume of the 'Annals' (pp. 127 and 128) will be found 

 a particular notice of some bee-eaters which in a very different 

 scene afforded much gratification to all who beheld them, as they 

 perched during migration on the stern-rope of H.M.S. Beacon, 

 when near the Morea, at the end of April 1841. 



The Kingfisher, Alcedo Ispida, Linn., is at least occa- 

 sionally to be met with in suitable localities throughout the 

 island. It is a species nowhere numerous. As many of these 

 birds would seem to be distributed over districts favourable for 

 their abode in Ireland, as in any other country. 



The kingfisher is said generally by British authors to be partial to 

 clear streams, but to the correctness of this remark its haunts around 

 Belfast will not bear testimony. Here are streams, which, though 

 not on a grand scale, partake more or less of every natural character, 

 and gently flow or wildly rush through scenery the most varied ; 

 yet the deep, muddy, and sluggish Lagan is its favourite haunt. 

 About waters of every description it may sometimes be seen, not 

 excepting the deep and unpicturesque brick-pits, about which no 

 tree or shrub appears. 



There is decidedly a partial migration or movement of these birds. 

 To ponds at our own residence in the country, contiguous to the 

 mountains, and elevated 500 feet above the sea, they came regu- 

 larly every year about the same time in the month of August, and 

 remained generally for about six weeks — once only were they seen 

 in winter. Their first appearance in the year 1831 was on the 4th 

 of August; in 1833 on the 14th; 1834 the 14th; and ] 835 the 

 17th of that month*. Although more frequently solitary, two were 

 occasionally seen in company, and in one instance three, of which a 

 couple were, from being less brilliant in plumage, and slower in flight 

 than the other, believed to be young birds. Their usual haunts are the 

 willowed banks of ponds, one of which is not more than thirty yards 

 distant from the dwelling-house. At little more than this distance 

 we were once amused on observing from the windows a kingfisher 

 perched on the handle of a spade, and looking a miserable object 

 from its being " all droukit " with heavy rain. It did not betray any 

 shyness, though several persons passed within about a dozen paces, 



* Intelligent persons resident on the banks of the Lagan, near Belfast, 

 state that kingfishers appear there in the autumn and remain until March, 

 when they disappear. This accords with the observation of Mr. Weir, who, 

 writing from Linlithgowshire, remarks — " In my neighbourhood kingfishers 

 are never seen before the beginning of September, and they usually disap- 

 pear about the end of March. They then retire to the river Avon, where 

 they breed." Macgillivray's Brit. Birds, vol. iii. p. 679. 



