Charles Joseph Patten and William John Williams

“ As we should naturally expect, the habits of a given species found in Ireland differed but little from the same found in Switzerland. If anything, the continental birds on the whole appeared rather the tamer of the two. As in Ireland, so in Switzerland, the birds of the mountainous districts showed a more marked tendency to shyness than those frequenting the towns and the vicinity of human habitations. ”

“ Thus, in Kilkenny and Queen's County the Jay is often seen, whereas it is practically absent from Louth and Dublin.
These facts concerning distribution are highly important to those who may wish to determine the absolute rarity of birds, a matter which every collector should consider before attempting to diminish their numbers. A non-breeding casual migratory species, seldom occurring in the British Isles, but common and widely distributed in other countries, cannot in any sense be considered a really rare bird. ”

“ General distribution.—Resident throughout the greater part of Europe, migrating in winter across the Mediterranean to North Africa. Also found in Western and South-western Asia. In India a different species exists (C. spinoides) .
Pyrrhula europæa (Vieill.) . Bullfinch.—Common and resident in Switzerland and Ireland. The large form with the very brilliant red breast (P. major) , which inhabits Northern and Eastern Europe, was noticed in Switzerland.
General distribution.—Throughout the greater part of Europe. Also wanders to North Africa and Western Asia. ”