208 
PARIM. 
the two species in Ireland is very different. To a few only of my 
correspondents is the latter known with certainty, but all who 
have bestowed attention on the subject, attest the presence of the 
coal titmouse in their respective counties, viz., Donegal, Clare, 
Kerry, Cork, . Tipperary, Wexford, and Dublin. In the north 
generally, and wherever I have been in suitable localities through- 
out the country, this bird has commonly occurred. It is interesting 
in spring to listen to the notes or song of the great, the blue, and 
the coal titmouse, all having a family resemblance, but each well 
known from the other by the ornithologist, — 
“ By him who muses through the woods at noon.” 
Towards the end of August, after a long silence, we may some- 
times hear the notes of the Pams ater renewed. 
Seeds as well as insects, &c., form a portion of its food. In a 
plantation consisting chiefly of the common pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) 
and the alder, I observed for a considerable time in the middle of 
December, some of these birds accompanied by the gold-crested 
regulus and lesser redpole ( Fringilla Linaria). They were all 
occupied in flying from one alder to another, and were intent on 
procuring the seed of this tree only. The various attitudes of these 
three beautiful species were highly interesting, as clinging only 
to the light bunches of pendent seed, they were not stationary for 
a single moment. To observe a troop of titmice comprising three 
or four species, in addition to the gold-crested regulus, and occa- 
sionally one or two others of our smallest birds, moving about in 
company, now pausing as if to display their graceful attitudes on 
plantations with the esprit du corps of one species, has always 
been to me, but especially in the depth of winter, a source of 
much attraction : at such times' their shrill little notes, evidently 
more than sight, serve to keep them together. When in Colin 
Glen on the 19th of November, 1833, I saw, as a matter of 
course, the gold-crested regulus, the blue and coal titmice in 
company. I was amused on observing both species of Parus 
cling to the centre of the under side of the leaves of the 
sycamore ( Acer Pseudo-Platanus ) still attached to the trees, and 
