290 Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. 



Rare in the district, but occasionally seen in the neighbourhood of 

 Walford. 



Fringilla Ccelebs, Linn. (Chaffinch.) Common. 



Fringilla Montifringilla, Linn. (Brambling.) Occurs regularly, 

 but sparingly, in Shropshire, during the winter months, frequenting 

 beech trees, and feeding on the mast. 



Carduelis aurata, nob. (Goldfinch.) Common. 



Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) Spinus, Linn. (Siskin.) Found com- 

 monly in Shropshire during winter ; frequenting the tops of alder 

 trees, on the seed of which it feeds, in company with the lesser red- 

 pole. 



Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) borealis, Roux. Linaria canescens, 

 Gould. (Mealy Redpole.) At different times, I have obtained seve- 

 ral specimens of this bird in Shropshire, but have never observed 

 them in large nights, the utmost number I have ever seen together 

 being ten or twelve, in company with the siskin, in which points 

 they differ in habit from both the greater and lesser redpoles. 



Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) flavirostris, Linn. (Lesser Redpole.) 

 Common in winter, in company with the siskin, and feeding in the 

 same manner. 



Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) cannabina, Linn. (Greater Redpole.) 

 Common. 



Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) Montium, Gmel. (Mountain Linnet.) 

 Occasionally found in Shropshire : common in North Wales, where 

 it breeds, making its nest on the ground under the shelter of some 

 furze bush or tuft of grass. 



Loxia (Co ceo thraustes, Briss.) Chloris, Linn. (Greenfinch.) Com* 

 mon. 



Loxia (Coccothraustes, Briss.) vulgaris, Flem. (Grosbeak.) A 

 regular winter visitant, frequenting fir trees in the neighbourhood of 

 Hawkstone and elsewhere, and often seen in company with the 

 crossbill. 



Pyrrhula vulgaris, Temm. (Bullfinch.) Common. 



Loxia curvirostra, Linn. (Crossbill.) Occasionally found on fir 

 and pine trees, during the autumn and winter months, particularly 

 such as stand high, as in those 9^ Hawkstone and Pimhill : arrives 

 in September. 



Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. (Starling.) Common. I have at differ- 

 ent times seen many starlings, with their upper and lower mandi- 

 bles crossed ; one is in my collection : they have all been birds taken 

 from the nest. Query. Does not a tendency to this monstrosity 

 show an affinity to the crossbills ? 



