432 Ornithology of Blackburn 



Fam. ii. — Conirostres. 



Gen. Alauda. 



35. Alauda arvensis. Skylark. It is singular that though the skylark 



is one of our most common birds, its congener the woodlark is ne- 

 ver met with. I once had a specimen brought to me as a great 

 rarity. I saw by the state of the plumage that it was a cage bird, 

 and on enquiry it turned out that the bird had been brought in a 

 cage, from the south of England.* 

 Gen. Parus. — Sub-gen. 1. Parus. 



36. Parus major. Great Tit. Common. 



37. Parus ater. Colemouse. } Of these two palustris is much 



38. Parus palustris. Marsh Tit. j more frequent than ater, which is 



somewhat scarce. 



39. Parus cceruleus. Blue Tit. Very common. 



40. Parus caudatus. Long-tailed Tit. In some localities and seasons 



very plentiful ; in others not to be met with. 

 Gen. Emberiza. 



41. Emberiza citrinella. Yellow Bunting. One of the most common 



of the Passeres. 



42. Emberiza Schceniculus. Reed Bunting. Common. 



43. Emberiza miliaria. CommonBunting. Rare, at least not common. 

 Gen. Plectrophanes. 



44. Plectrophanes nivalis. Snow Bunting. Occasionally flocks have 



been seen in the mountains, but they appear capricious in their 

 habits. We have had none for the last three years. 

 Gen. Fringilla. — Sub-gen. 1. Pyrgita. 



45. Pyrgita domestica. House Sparrow. Abundant.f 

 Sub-gen. 2. Fringilla. 



46. Fringilla ccelebs. Chaffinch. Common. In the winter I never 

 meet with any but males. 



47. Fringilla Montifringilla. Mountain Finch. Rare, and only found 



in the mountains, or their immediate neighbourhood. 

 Sub-gen. 3. Carduelis. 



48. Carduelis aurata. Goldfinch. Sparingly scattered in our neigh- 

 bourhood. 



Sub-gen. 4. Linaria. 



49. Linaria Spinus. Siskin. Rare, but obtained occasionally. 



50. Linaria Jlavirostris. Lesser Redpole. Common. 



* Last year I was so fortunate as to procure a black lark. The ground 

 colour is a dark brown, and those parts of the plumage which, in the com- 

 mon skylark, are brown, in this bird are jet black. In form it is not distin- 

 guishable from the skylark. Last autumn a white lark was frequently seen 

 in a flock of skylarks, on the lower range of hills two miles south of Black- 

 burn. The colliers, who saw it several times, said that it was of a pure white, 

 and that the eye was red, for it flew so near to them as almost to be within 

 reach of the hand. As soon as I heard of it I sent a man, who is a good 

 shot, in pursuit of it ; he beat about its accustomed haunts for two days, 

 but could not meet with it. 



fin August, 1834, a white sparrow was frequently seen about the farm 

 yards, hedges, &c, in the neighbourhood of the Alum Scar. I saw it seve- 

 ral times myself; it was of the usual dingy hue. Unfortunately I had no 

 gun : several of my sporting friends promised to shoot it for me, but when- 

 ever they beat up its quarters it was gone. It was seen occasionally for ma- 

 ny weeks : I never heard of its capture, nor do I believe that it was taken. 



