FRINGILLIN^. 



t8: 



THE B RAMBLING. 



Fringilla montifringi'lla, Linnaeus. 



This species is said to pass through the Shetlands on both migra- 

 tions, but its appearance is decidedly irregular in the Orkneys, as 

 well as in the west of Scotland generally ; while even on the east 

 side it is seldom abundant to the north of the Firth of Forth, 

 though immense flocks are sometimes observed in the Lothians. 

 Throughout October many arrive annually on the north-east coast 

 of England, especially the Humber district, but further south the 

 relative abundance of the Brambling — or Mountain-Finch as it is 

 sometimes called — depends upon the severity of the weather on the 

 Continent. In hard winters the species may be very numerous, 

 especially in the vicinity of beech-woods, but in other years it is not 

 noticed ; while in Cornwall and Wales its appearance is very un- 

 certain. By the middle of March almost all have returned to their 

 northern breeding-grounds, but exceptionally a few birds have been 

 known to remain behind. To Ireland this bird's visits are very 

 irregular, and it is little known there, but at long intervals large 



