484 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE REED BIRD. 



immediate vicinity of the island, stated that the birds continue there 

 throughout the year, living for the most part in the wood during the 

 days, but coming out for food in the evenings and mornings. He added, 

 that he continually saw them at such times, a dozen together, on the 

 edge of the lake, catching the pike, bream, and other fish, with which 

 those waters abound. Admitting the fact, which there appears no 

 reason to question, of the habits of these birds, as to their winter resi- 

 dence varying in different places, may it not be accounted for by 

 supposing that they can easily find a larger supply of food in some 

 inland situations than in others ? 



The shores of Lough Erne abound with a fossil production, which 

 is called by the inhabitants, petrified reeds. I brought away with me 

 a specimen, which seems to answer that description. It consists of a 

 congeries of pipe-like substances, filled with crystallised matter, and 

 consolidated into one mass of great weight and hardness, with an inter- 

 mixture of indurated clay. 



Killeshandra, Oct. 8, 1833. 



P.S. The Heronry which I noticed in the Field Naturalist's Magazine, 

 p. 320, as being in the county of Cavan, is at Farnham, the seat of 

 Lord Farnham, near the town of Cavan. I have been lately told by 

 a gentleman who knows the spot, that there is another at Horetown, 

 near Taghmon, in the county of Wexford, the property of Mr. Goff. 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE REED BIRD. 

 {Ripaecola arundinacea, Rennie.) 



BY ROBERT SWEET, ESQ., F. L. S*. 



This is a very variable bird in its colours, some being very pale, and 

 others altogether as dark, while those that are pale one season frequently 

 become dark the ensuing one It is a curious little lively bird, known 

 often by the name of reed wren. It generally makes its appearance 

 with us the beginning of April, and leaves us in September ; its early 

 or late departure seems to depend a good deal on the warmth or coolness 

 of the season. It is a very merry bird, almost continually singing, and 

 will sing by night as well as day, sitting amongst the reeds, or in some 

 bush or tree near the water, where it feeds on gnats and other insects, 

 which abound in moist situations. It is very fond of flies, spiders, 



* From the notes to White's Selborne, 8vo. edit. 1833. 



