170 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



and it fed on the seeds ; in 1878 a small flock was observed 

 in a market garden in Meanwood Road, the first reported 

 from there. In Lower Wharfedale it was abundant when 

 flax was extensively grown ; Oglethorpe Whin cover, where 

 it still nests sparingly, used to be a favourite haunt. In the 

 Nidd valley it continued to nest up to 1882, as also in the 

 Washburn valley near Fewston ; at Staveley ; near Ripon, 

 and in the north-west of the county, though in most of these 

 districts its present status, generally speaking, is that of 

 a winter visitant in small numbers. 



Many years ago Goldfinches were caught in the Castle 

 Yard at York ; as breeding birds they are now scarce near 

 the city, except at Sandhutton, where some considerable 

 numbers nest, though not so many as formerly ; in the 

 central valleys of the North Riding it is extremely scarce 

 as a nesting species, but it bred in upper Teesdale in 1871. 

 In the Scarborough district it was met with in the years 

 1900 and 1901 ; and appears to be slightly increasing there, 

 several nests being found in 1905. It is a scarce resident near 

 Whitby ; at Loftus it is frequent in winter, though it rarely 

 breeds there. It used to be plentiful in north-west Cleveland 

 about the " sixties " when linseed was freely grown, now that 

 the cultivation of that plant is discontinued it has become 

 very rare ; it is generally a winter visitant, only nesting 

 sparingly in one or two localities. 



In the East Riding it is not uncommon at Pocklington 

 and within a radius of several miles in the surrounding district, 

 where it nests annually ; it is occasionally found at Market 

 Weighton, but is scarce at Knapton and Scampston, and 

 generally noticed only in winter. It bred formerly near 

 Bridlington, but has greatly decreased in numbers, while 

 near Flamborough and Spurn it is only a winter visitant on 

 migration. In the Beverley neighbourhood it is scarce, 

 and as soon as it makes its appearance it is eagerly sought 

 after by the bird-catchers. It was formerly exceedingly 

 numerous, and there is very good authority for stating 

 that no less than four hundred were captured on the site of 

 the present Union at Beverley in a few days ; this small 



