96 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
Parus caudatus (Long-tailed Tit). This interesting bird, says Thompson, though 
not well known in eonsequence of its retired and wooded haunts, has long been 
recorded as indigenous to Ireland. I noticed a flock of these birds in Donny- 
brook, in the early part of last spring; they were from eighteen to twenty in 
number, and alighted on a horse-chesnut tree, within about three yards of my win¬ 
dow, on the 17th of April, 1853. They were unaccompanied by any of the other 
Pari, and I had a good opportunity of observing their manners as they quickly 
searched every branch of the tree—uttering all the while their cheerful tweet. A 
few of the birds had the fine roseate hue on their breasts. 
Montacilla flava (Rays Wagtail). According to Thompson, this bird can only 
be announced as a summer visitant to one locality—viz., Lough Neagh ; and as of 
occasional and rare occurrence elsewhere. I observed a pair of these birds on the 
banks of the river Dodder, in the early part of the summer of 1853. The M. 
boarula was present at the same time, but even at a distance the difference was 
clearly discernible. 
Alauda arborea (Woodlark), is a resident, though very local species.—Thomp¬ 
son. Mr. Lamprey exhibited a pair of these birds, at a former meeting of the 
Association, taken near the Vale of Ovoca, county Wicklow, during the severe 
weather which occurred about Christmas. 
Fringilla montifringilla (Brambling). Is a frequent, if not a regular, winter 
visitant.—Thompson. In a letter received from Mr. Davis, on the 3rd of this 
month (March), he states, that a flock of the above birds are in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Clonmel. They resort to one spot in a demesne about one or one and 
a-half miles from this (Clonmel), and are generally seen in the very tops of high 
beech trees. 
Picus viridis (Green Woodpecker). A specimen of this very rare Irish bird was 
forwarded to Dr. Ball, by Thomas Batt, Esq., shot on the 12th of January, in Derry. 
This is one of the commonest of the English woodpeckers, and is found to the north 
of Scotland, although not mentioned by Jardine or Macgilivray, being enume¬ 
rated in Dr. W.B. Backie’s Historia Naturalis Orcadensis, as occurring in Zetland. 
Its stomach contained minute larva—doubtless taken from beneath the bark of 
trees. This is the third well-authenticated occurrence of this species in Ireland. 
It was exhibited at a former meeting of the Association.. 
Scolapax rusticola (Woodcock). A female specimen of this bird, with two 
young ones, was forwarded to Dr. Ball, in the month of May, 1853, by James Pirn, 
Esq., from Monkstown, and is another instance of this bird breeding in our island, 
they are preserved, among the Irish collection, in the University Museum. 
Crex porzana (Spotted Crake). Mr. T. S. Walpole has, in his collection, a 
specimen of this bird, shot at Kilbarrv, County Waterford, some time in October, 
1852 ; this was communicated to me in April, 1853, by Mr. Davis This bird, says 
Thompson, can only be announced with certainty as an occasional, though, probably, 
a regular, summer visitant. 
Charadrius morinellus (Dotterel) is very rarely met with in Ireland.—Thompson. 
In a letter fr )m Mr. Davis, of the 26th October, 1853, he says, that on the 30th of 
last month, he had a dotterel sent him, shot on the hills near this town (Clonmel). 
This bird is very rare hereabouts ; and Mr. T. W. Warren exhibited, at a meeting 
of this Association, a specimen of this bird, shot by Mr. Trumble, on one of the 
highest mountains in Donegal, it was in company with some golden plover (Squat- 
arola cinerca). 
Ibis Ealcinellus (Glossy Ibis) is an occasional visitant, chiefly late in autumn or 
early in winter.—Thompson. By a paragraph in a local paper (the Coleraine Chron .), 
not always the safest guide in such cases, it would appear that a specimen of this bird 
has been obtained in that neighbourhood. I wrote to Mr. W. Dogherty, in whose 
possession the bird was, and have to thank him for the following particulars :— 
“ It was one of six which were seen on the banks of the River Bush, near Bush¬ 
mills, in autumn last, and the sr ecimen m question was the only one procured out 
of the flock. It was kept alive for ten days, and fed on small fish ; but, being 
wounded in the head, died at the expiration of that time. It is now stuffed; it 
appeared to be in full plumage; colour, approaching to a beautiful green ; about 
the size of a curlew; legs very long, and bill long and curved.” 
