50 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



smaller mammals in a state of nature, and this leads me to place on 

 record the following little experience. On 28th October, Mr. Laid- 

 law and I were walking on the main road a little to the north of 

 Pitlochry when we saw a small rodent seize a hip of the wild rose 

 and dart into a wall. It almost immediately came to the mouth of 

 the hole and commenced feeding on the fruit, and we at once saw 

 that the animal was a Bank Vole (Evotomys glareolus}. WM. EAGLE 

 CLARKE. 



Brambling 1 in Tiree. On the ist of March last I shot a male 

 Brambling, the first I have ever seen here, in my garden. I sent 

 the bird to Mr. Harvie-Brown. PETER ANDERSON, Tiree. 



Goldfinches in Midlothian. The occurrence of the Goldfinch 

 (Carduelis carduelis) in Midlothian is now so rare that any instance 

 of it is worth recording. On Thursdav. oth November, Mr. Hugh 



t > r * S O 



Campbell, Dalmeny Park, saw two near Arniston Gates, Gorebridge. 

 Near the same place Siskins (Chrysomttris spinns) were in abun- 

 dance, and at another part of the road nearer Rosebery a small 

 party of Bullfinches (Pyrrhula enropcea) were seen. CHAS. CAMPBELL, 

 Cramond Brig. 



Tree-Sparrow in West Lothian. At intervals during the late 

 autumn I had heard the call-notes of some Sparrows in a small wood 

 here, which attracted my attention, but I found the birds remarkably 

 shy, and at first I failed to obtain a satisfactory view of them, and 

 it was not until ist December that I at length was able to make 

 certain of their identity. I have only seen about half-a-dozen, though 

 there are probably more. They are frequenting this wood most 

 regularly, being in it or the immediate vicinity at all times of the 

 day. SYDNEY E. BROCK, Kirkliston. 



Tree-Sparrow in Fife. During the month of September, along 

 with my friend Mr. Robert B. Whyte, I found the Tree-Sparrow 

 common in the vicinity of Crail. A flock of forty or so was con- 

 stantly feeding about a refuse heap near the churchyard ; the 

 species was also observed inland from Crail on the St. Andrews 

 road, and at Craighead farm, where it was associating with the 

 House-Sparrow. The numbers and distribution indicate that the 

 Tree-Sparrow is a resident in the East Neuk, as well as at the old- 

 established and better known stations, Leuchars and Lindores, 

 further north. GEORGE B. BARBOUR, Edinburgh. 



Occurrence of the Bullfinch in Shetland. There has been a 

 considerable immigration of Bullfinches here, and doubtless else- 

 where in Shetland. On the afternoon of 2 ist November when 

 opening my garden gate I got a glimpse of a gaily plumaged bird 

 among the shrubs, and on examining it closely with a glass I was 

 surprised to find it was a cock Bullfinch, and close by it a hen bird. 



