142 
MERULIDiE. 
garded only as a mode of repeating its notes, called by bird- 
fanciers “ recording.” 
Of the stomachs of three redwings opened by me, one (in Janu- 
ary) contained the remains of insects, two shells of Helix cellar ia, 
and one of H. radiata ; two (in December) exhibited worms, vege- 
table food, chiefly bits of grass, remains of coleopterous insects, 
and several Limacelli ; one had in addition two of the Bulimus 
lubricus , a Helix hisjoida, and three of H rufescens: some of 
these shells were perfect. 
THE BLACKBIRD. 
Turdus merula, Linn. 
Is common and resident throughout the wooded districts 
of Ireland. 
They likewise resort to the islands off the coasts. In the summer 
of 1827 I remarked them among the underwood sparingly scat- 
tered over the Lighthouse island (one of the Copelands), off the 
county of Down. Dr. J. D. Marshall mentions one or two being 
occasionally seen in the wild island of Rathlin, about a garden 
where they sometimes breed. The indigenous birds do not 
congregate with us, nor have I ever heard of flocks being seen 
in any part of this country on their migration from the north 
of Europe, as they have been in England.* They are indeed stated 
to be more numerous about Tralee (co. Kerry) in winter than 
in summer, but their comparative scarcity at the latter season 
is attributed to the want of woods and thickets wherein to 
build. 
In the middle of June, I have heard the blackbird sing 
at Wolf-hill as early in the morning as a quarter past 2 o'clock. In 
1832, it was noted as ceasing its song about the middle of June, 
soon after which time the thrush also ceased : so late as the 25th 
of July, 1845, the blackbird's song was heard near Belfast. 
Captain Walker of Belmont, Wexford, remarked in a letter to me. 
Selby’s Ulustr. of Brit. Orn. vol. i. p. 1 67, second edition. 
