ig2i. Foster — Birds' Songs at Hillsborough, Co. Down. 21 



axiom with the late John Cottney that the Sedge-Warbler 

 never sang in the vicinity of its nest, and the same has 

 invariably been my own experience. The Chaffinch's song 

 is usually first heard about the middle of February, and 

 from then till the middle of July apparently every male 

 bird in the neighbourhood sings all day long, but one heard 

 singing on 4th November, 1915, is an exception. I have 

 not heard the Chaffinch's song in this district prior to 

 February,^ but on 26th January, 1918, I noted one singing 

 in Phoenix Park, Dublin. The song of the Corn-Bunting 

 in November, 191 1, must be exceptional ; and I believe 

 I have heard Skylarks singing in December though my 

 note-books do not record the fact. The Landrail's " song" 

 generally ceases to be uttered about the third week in July, 

 but one was heard on the evening of 9th August, 1917. 

 In 1908 I have a note of a Whitethroat perched on a tele- 

 phone wire and rising therefrom in full song and descending 

 to its perch several times as is its custom — this on 6th 

 August. 



PERIOD OF SINGIx^G AS HEARD AT HILLSBOROUGH, 

 CO. DOWN, 1 910-18. 



Song-Thrush 



Jan. -July ; Sept.-Dec. 



Blackbird 



Feb.- July. 



Redbreast 



Jan.-Dec. 



Whitethroat 



May- July. 



Golden-crested Wren 



Jan.-July. 



Chiffchaff 



March-Sept. 



Willow-Wren 



April-Sept. 



Sedge- Warbler 



. . May- July. 



Hedge-Sparrow 



Jan.-Dec. 



Great Titmouse 



Jan.-Dec. 



Coal-Titmouse 



Jan.-Dec. 



Blue Titmouse 



Jan., March-May ; Dec. 



Wren 



Jan.-Dec. 



Meadow-Pipit 



. . March- July. 



Chaffinch 



. . Feb.- July ; Nov. 



Corn-Bunting 



March-Aug. ; Nov. 



Yellow Bunting 



Feb.-Aug. 



Reed-Bunting 



. . Feb. ; April-Aug. 



Skylark 



Jan.— July ; Sept.— Nov, 



Cuckoo 



April-June. 



Landrail 



April-Aug. 



^ Since this was in type I heard two Chaffinches singing on 31st 

 January at Hillsborough 



