242 
EMBEEIZIDiE. 
seen on Tory Island, off the north-west of Donegal, in August, 
1845 * 
On reading the opinion expressed by Sir Wm. Jardine, in his 
edition of White's Selborne, f that there is a migration of bunt- 
ings to Great Britain in winter, I thought it might be likewise 
applicable to Ireland ; but on subsequent consideration, did not 
feel altogether convinced that there is any increase to the number 
of these birds bred in the country. The change from the sum- 
mer to the winter haunts of the bunting, might lead to such a 
supposition, as about the time that our winter birds of passage are 
arriving, flocks of buntings make their appearance in localities, — 
(often hedges along road-sides) — which, frequenting through the 
winter, they leave on the genial approach of spring : so late as the 
end of March, they occasionally remain congregated. Mr. J. R. 
Garrett is inclined to believe in a migration, from the circumstance 
that early every winter during his residence at Cromac, near Belfast, 
flocks consisting of from one to two hundred birds appeared, and 
continued until spring. They were to be seen every evening in a 
plantation of Scotch elm trees, where they remained like grey lin- 
nets for about an hour before retiring to roost in an adjoining shrub- 
bery. A few pair only were seen about the place during summer. 
The song of the bunting may be heard in the north throughout 
greater part of the year, including occasionally the months of 
November and December. 
My observation is quite in accordance with that of White, 
who, in his history of Selborne, remarks of the bunting, that 
“ in our woodland enclosed districts it is a rare bird." It is 
rather an inhabitant of the bare arable, than of the rich and wooded 
parts of the country, and where some little portion of wildness 
still exists, such as is implied in the common name of ^nhr-bunting. 
The ditch-bank run wild with “ briars " or brambles ( Rubi ) has 
more charms for this bird than the “neat trim-hedge," and within 
the shelter of such humble underwood its nest is made. It also 
builds frequently on the ground in meadows. J In severe frost 
* Mr. Hyndman. 
f It is not repeated in his subsequent work on Brit. Birds. | Mr. J. It. Garrett. 
