The next winter, in which siskins were met with over a great part of the island, was that of 1847-8, when they were observed in the county of Wexford for the first time. They were seen there on the 26th of November and subsequently.* About Cork they appeared in considerable numbers;† as they did also at Ranelagh, near Dublin, where they were first noticed in December, and remained until the first or second week of April. In these three localities they were associated with the lesser redpole; and in the two latter, were feeding on the seed of the alder. On the 11th of February, the Rev. George Robinson informed me that siskins had been common for the previous month in the county of Armagh generally, including the neighbourhood of his residence, near Tandragee; they came almost daily under his notice, unassociated with any other species, and about fifty were sometimes in a flock. They fed almost wholly on the alder, and looked beautiful, hanging like little parrots, picking at the drooping seeds of that tree :—some were killed feeding on thistles. They admitted of a close approach, and during a recent snow-storm were killed with stones by boys. On the 9th of March, they were last observed about Tandragee. In the vicinity of Belfast, I first heard of them on Christmas day, from which period until the end of February, they were observed in various parts of the counties of Antrim and Down. On the trees bordering the bay about Mertoun, it was said that about a hundred would appear in a flock; even some hundreds are stated to have been seen together, on the wooded banks of Lough Neagh, at Rockland. Some were described as hanging like titmice, feeding on the seeds of the birch: and elegant this graceful tree must have appeared at such a time.

An observant friend, residing in Ayrshire, saw several siskins near Ballantrae, a few days before Christmas, 1839,—a season in which they are not known to have visited Ireland,—and since that period, they have often been common in winter, about the

* Mr. Poole.

+ Dr. Harvey, who remarks that they visit a place about five miles from Cork, in the winter, pretty regularly.

Report, Dublin Nat. Hist. Society, June 9th, 1848; where also the species is said to have been obtained near the metropolis in "the winter of 1846."

wooded valley of the river Stinchar; he has sometimes observed them picking like sparrows at the horse-dung on the roads. The bird-catchers believe that siskins breed in that quarter, as they often take young birds, but the period of their capture has not been so precisely stated as to enable me to form any opinion on the question. The siskin is known to Sir Wm. Jardine and others, to have bred in different parts of Scotland. Goldfinches are so scarce in the part of Ayrshire alluded to, that only one pair has come under the notice of my friend.

Is one of the most common birds throughout Ireland at every season.

IN nearly all kinds of localities, except the lofty mountain-ridge, this species is to be met with,* either by itself, or associated with other linnets (Linaria); sometimes with chaffinches. It is partial to neglected pastures, or other grounds, where "weeds" are permitted to flourish, and renders the farmer a great service by feeding on their seeds. The cultivator of flax in the north of Ireland, by placing no value on the home-grown seed, until of late years, unwittingly presented a rich autumnal treat to the greylinnet. After this plant had been subjected to steeping, the seed parted freely from the stem, when the bundles were flung out of the pool on the neighbouring banks, where these birds might be seen congregated to feed upon it, so long as any remained. The linnet has a great predilection for deserted quarries, especially of limestone, for the sake, doubtless, of consuming the seeds of the various plants which spring from the débris;—as it also has

* About Aberarder, Inverness-shire, where there is not much choice of locality, I have seen them about wild mountain banks, and have heard them sing when congregated in the middle of September, on the rocky heights above Loch Cor.

for the borders of the sea-shore unaffected by cultivation, where many hundreds may often be seen associated together. The seeds of different species of mouse-ear chick-weed (Cerastium) are favourite food. So early as the 10th of July, I once saw several flocks, some containing fifty individuals, on the marine sand-hills at Portrush, near the Giant's Causeway: one of these birds which fed within six paces of me was regaling on the seed of a dandelion, which it extracted with great rapidity; on rising from the ground its call was uttered and repeated for some time on the wing.* The following note was made on September the 21st:--For some time past, I have daily seen flocks of from two to three hundred grey linnets about the rocks at the sea-side near Bangor, county of Down. As they were perched to-day, which was very fine, on low rocks whose bases were washed by the sea, they kept up a pleasing concert, reminding me of that produced by an assembled multitude of redwings (Turdus Iliacus), on fine days in the early spring. At the end of April, I have seen the grey linnet perched on the top of Fucus-covered stones,--the legitimate haunt of the rock pipit,-singing most vigorously, though whin-covered rocks, its favourite resort, were quite contiguous. I have met with this bird in the month of June when visiting low rocky islets in the sea, the breeding-haunts of terns (Sternæ). Occasionally in autumn as well as spring, the true song of the linnet may be heard trilled forth by individuals which form part of a large flock.

To witness a number of grey linnets feeding is a very pleasing sight. Several may be seen in different attitudes, busied in extracting the seed from a single thistle or ragweed, which all the while keeps moving to and fro with their weight. The ear is at the same time gratified with their lively call, which is constantly uttered by one or more of the party. When two or three are engaged on the petty surface of a ragweed-top, and others fly to it, some of the first comers, apparently on the principle, that the world is wide

* In this respect the lesser redpole is said by Mr. Selby to differ from the grey linnet, which he considers to be silent on the wing, but in the north of Ireland there is not this distinction between the species.

enough for all, generally move off, and leave it to the later guests; occasionally, indeed, the interruption produces a little buffeting, but this soon terminates; unlike the general melée of the sparrow, where the row, originating with a pair, soon becomes general; or the regular "stand-up fight" of the robin, a couple of which, when feeling "blown" after a set-to, literally stop to take breath, after the approved manner of the Fives-Court; and this done, battle again as hard as ever until the victory is decided.

Sir Wm. Jardine, has very pleasingly observed, that "every one who has lived much in the country, must have often remarked the common linnets congregating towards the close of a fine winter's evening, perched on the summit of some bare tree, pluming themselves in the last rays of the sun, chirruping the commencement of their evening song, and then bursting simultaneously into one general chorus; again resuming their single strains, and again joining, as if happy and rejoicing at the termination of their day's employment." I had daily for a season, the gratification of thus observing them at Wolf-hill, where the effect was heightened, by the black Italian poplars which they alighted on, and dotted with their numbers to the very apex, having pyramidal-formed heads, and accordingly, presenting several pyramids of birds, each giving forth its peal of music. When this ceased, the birds, descended to roost in fine large Portugal laurels, growing beneath and around the trees. The time, &c., of their resorting to these poplars was noted on a few occasions during one season:-"On Feb. 16th, a great number appeared at four o'clock; on the 9th of March, kept up their strain until half-past 5; March 30th, did the same until half-past six, and though their numbers have become much thinned, 120 were reckoned. So late as the 5th of May some came in flocks to roost; fifteen were observed in company this evening." During the last few winters, grey linnets have attracted much attention at the Botanic Garden of Belfast, by coming in several hundreds every evening to roost. They frequent, in the manner already described, the black Italian poplars, which here, as at Wolf-hill, are preferred to all other trees. This *Note to his edition of Wilson's American Ornithology.

preference does not arise merely from the superior loftiness of these trees, but has a 'deeper seat,' to which the fine evergreen shrubs at their base may fairly lay claim:-in their umbrageous shelter the birds warmly repose during the long winter night. In wild districts, I have remarked that they roost among the more lowly furze or whins.

In the north of Ireland the whin is the greylinnet's favourite plant for building in, next to which, the hawthorn may be ranked, whether in a hedge or growing singly. It is likewise partial in the breeding season, and during summer, to the wild hill-sides in the chalk or limestone districts of the north-east of the island, where there is a profusion of humble underwood, as the various species of rose, bramble, &c. On the 1st of September, I have seen birds with the red on the breast as bright as in June. This is a favourite cage-bird in the north of Ireland, and consequently is much sought after by bird-catchers, who call it simply grey, or whin-grey.

Fringilla linaria, Linn.

Is found from north to south of Ireland.

ALTHOUGH probably resident everywhere, it is more plentiful in the north, but from the nature of its haunts, is not commonly known like the greylinnet. The bird is mentioned in the Fauna of Cork, as a rare winter visitant, but further observation will doubtless evince its more frequent appearance. In Kerry, Mr. R. Chute, considers the species so rare, that he has particularized the year of its occurrence in the same manner, as he has those in which the snow bunting and mountain finch were found. At the end of May or beginning of June, the lesser redpole has been observed on the banks of the Blackwater, in the county of Waterford, and was presumed to breed there,† which it is known * Redpoll it should rather be, but as authors have generally used the above orthography, it is adopted.

t Ball.