The Irish Nafuralist. October, 



though there is none of the proper song, only some of the 

 single note. I heard Starling song at the end of September 

 and frequently in early December. The song both then 

 and in early spring seems invariably for attracting a mate 

 by a single bird or by a bird separating himself from a 

 flock. He generally stops when the female comes to him. 

 I have seen attempted coition on such occasions several 

 times in December and January, All through the winter 

 many of the Wrens can be seen in pairs, but especially at 

 roosting time (which is a regular song time for this bird 

 as well as of the Robin). The proximity of the female 

 seems at all seasons to tend to produce Wren's song, though 

 there is plenty apart from her. Some Goldcrests appear 

 to keep in pairs. I noticed much of their song at the end 

 of October and end of December, At the latter time the 

 song was regular at roosting. 



I would conclude these notes by mentioning a very 

 interesting bit of information I had from Mr. A. Kolte 

 Macpherson in reference to Willow Wrens in the west end 

 of inner London. " Willow Wrens pass through this district 

 in spring in fairly large numbers, but with the exception 

 of a pair or two they do not stay with us more than a day 

 or two, and are not to be seen or heard during the summer. 

 About the middle of July they become quite common in 

 London— more numerous than during the spring migration — 

 and their song is often heard from then till end of August, 

 This song is, however, weaker than that heard in spring, 

 A good many but by no means all of the birds which invade 

 London in July are young, distinguishable by their yellower 

 plumage." Now my later Willow Wren singers cease song 

 in the first days of July, and the following questions arise 

 from this letter 



1. Is the return journey started from here so early ? 



2. Do migrants returning south sing on their way ? 

 (The general evidence seems to be that they do not sing on 

 their way north to us}. 



3. If so, song and territory would seem detachable, at 

 least in reference to residual song. Perhaps it is not 

 residual in this case ; perhaps breeding results ? 



Enniskillen. 



