BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. G57 



75. MGuntain Linnet. Linaria flavirostris. A winter visitor. 

 Rather rare. 



76. Bullfinch. Pi/rrhida pileata. Permanently resident. 

 Abundant in all our woodlands, affects also orchards, plan- 

 tations and shrubberies. In spring is very injurious to 

 fruit trees, particularly the cherry, by devouring the buds. 

 Seldom commences the work of nidification before the mid- 

 dle of May. The young remain in families with their 

 parents till the next breeding season. 



77. Common Crossbill. Loxia europwa. An occasional visi- 

 tor. Breeds with us. Mr Adams, of Bradgate Park, 

 states, that he found a nest and five young ones in a spruce 

 fir tree on the boundary of the park, in 1839. The birds 

 and young ones went away. I have seen many specimens 

 obtained in this county. As many as nineteen were killed 

 from a flock in the winter of 1838-9, at Widmerpool. 

 That winter they were very numerous throughout the 

 island, and many were wantonly killed and destroyed. I 

 attribute the numerous visits of these birds to the rapid 

 increase of late years of our fir plantations, which are now 

 getting into bearing their cones. 



78. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris. Abundant throughout the 

 year. Gregarious, and social, flocking with Rooks, Jack- 

 daws, and Fieldfares, searching the pastures for slugs, 

 beetles, and worms. Nestles early in the season, under the 

 cottage thatch, the gable-end of the farm-house or manse, 

 the solitary ruin, the venerable gateway, or the lofty tower ; 

 also in the aged oak, the hollow ash or beech, or fantastic 

 maple ; likewise in dovecots and pigeon-houses. Although 

 this bird becomes decidedly gregarious or social, after the 

 breeding season, yet a few pairs remain attached to their 

 breedincr haunts throuchout the autumnal and brumal 

 months in a state of widowhood or companionship. 



79. Rose-coloured Pastor. Pastor roseus. A rare straggler. A 

 fine specimen was killed some years ago near to the banks 

 of the Trent, in the Lordship of Castle Donnington, in this 

 county. 



80. Raven. Corvus Corax. A very rare straggler. Indeed I 



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