210 
PARIDiE. 
When my observations on this species were published in 1838, it 
had not been met with in the province of Munster, by any of my 
correspondents resident there, but since that period has been, 
noticed. Its distribution from north to south is now known, as 
follows : — In the north-west of Donegal, it has been seen ; but 
very rarely.* In Londonderry, the bird is not only said to occur, 
as already mentioned, but to be more frequent than the common 
species, the blue titmouse !*j* — which must be incorrect. In 
Antrim, it has been once seen at Claggan, and at Portglenone : 
from the latter place one was sent to Belfast, in January, 1837, 
as a bird never before observed by persons accustomed to shoot 
in that neighbourhood ; six or seven of them were together : 
in Shane^s-Castle Park I saw a few in May, 1838. Its num- 
bers would seem of late years to have increased considerably 
throughout the north, where the species occurred only twice to the 
late Mr. Templeton. Within several miles around Belfast, in 
Antrim and Down, this bird, for a number of years, has been met 
with, wherever there is a sufficiently great extent of wood, this 
being apparently the only essential requisite to its presence. It 
alike inhabits the plantations of the mountain glen, with its 
rocks and din of cascades ; those around the beautiful seats which 
adorn the shores of the bay, and those ornamenting the most 
improved demesnes in the rich and highly cultivated valley of 
the Lagan. In Tollymore Park (Down), these birds were first 
observed by the gamekeeper in 1836. Specimens from Per- 
managh have come under my inspection. It inhabits the county 
of Meath; has been seen about Portumna, on the borders of 
Galway ; and is said to breed in the small islands of the Conne- 
mara lakes. § In the neighbourhood of Dublin this bird has come 
under my own notice, and is considered, by Mr. E. Ball, as not un- 
common there; but around Youghal, in the county of Cork — his for- 
mer place of residence — he never met with it. The species is not 
uncommon near Cahir, and frequents the woods about Ballibrado, 
* Mr. J. V. Stewart. f Sampson’s Londonderry. 
§ M'Calla. 
