Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/210

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
186
sylviadæ.

MS. of the late John Templeton, Esq. :— "On the 21st of May, 1820, 1 had the pleasure of seeing this bird, to whose haunt in my garden I was attracted by its pleasing melody. It was not very shy, coming near enough to be distinctly seen, but was ex- tremely restless, flitting every moment from place to place, and only stationary on the branch while it gave out its song. The male continued to sing until the young were reared, when his song ceased for about a fortnight ; then it was again renewed, as I suppose on the construction of a second nest." By Dr. Har- vey of Cork, I have been informed, that his cousin, the late Mr. Henry Fennell of Ballibrado, county of Tipperary, ascertained that this species bred there in more years than one : both old and young birds and eggs were procured. For several years past it has frequented the rich gardens about Sunday's Well,* Cork.

The Garden Warbler is one of the regular summer visitants to England, but would seem to be less common in Scotland, though much more frequent there than in Ireland.

THE WHITE-THROAT.

Curruca cinerea, Lath, (sp.)
Sylvia cinerea, Lath. (sp.)
Motacilla sylvia, Linn.

Is a regular summer visitant from south to north.

This bird is well known in Ireland. Like the sedge warbler it generally appears about Belfast early in May ; but on the 24th of April, 1836, was observed at Cromac in the neighbourhood of the town. On the 23rd of April, 1842, I heard its song in the district of the Falls, and on the following two or three days, heard several singing about the river Lagan, and therefore believed that the general arrival had taken place: in M'Skimmin's History of Carrickfergus (p. 354, 2nd edit.), it is mentioned as being once heard near that city on the 21st of April. One was seen by Mr. J. R. Garrett on the 15th of September, 1837, the latest date at


Dr. Harvey, on the authority of Mr. R. Parker.