i6 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Diagnostic characters : It is impossible to give 

 any character by which the eggs of the Serin can 

 be distinguished from those of the Goldfinch and the 

 Siskin. They require the most careful identification 

 and reliable authentication to render them of any 

 scientific value. 



Family FRINGILLID.-E. Genus Fringilla. 



Sub-family FKINGILLIN^. 



BRAMBLING. 



Fringilla montifringilla, LinncEus. 



(British : Common autumn migrant.) 



Double Brooded. Laying season, May and June. 



Breeding area : Northern Pal^earctic region. The 

 Brambling breeds in the pine and birch forests of the 

 Arctic regions from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In 

 Scandinavia it does not appear to breed south of lat. 60°, 

 but in the far East in the valley of the Amoor, where the 

 mean summer temperature is lower, it does so as far 

 south as lat. 50°. 



Breeding habits : Although the Brambling is ob- 

 viously very closely allied to the Chaffinch, the habits 

 of the two species, especially during the breeding season, 

 differ considerably. The Brambling is much more of an 

 Arctic bird, and even in the southern limits of its breed- 

 ing area its ally the Chafiinch becomes decidedly rare. 

 During the nesting season the Brambling is, if not exactly 

 so gregarious as during winter, at least social, and numbers 

 of pairs generally breed in company. The favourite breed- 

 ing grounds of the Brambling arc birch forests, and open 



