154 ^'^ Ornithological Visit to Warivickshire. [Sess. 



being soundly thrashed at school into the mysteries of ancient 

 mythology may have some recollection of the legend of Alcyone 

 or Halcyone, daughter of ^olus, the god of the winds, and her 

 husband Ceyx, who were changed into kingfishers, which cir- 

 cumstance gave rise to the belief that for seven days before 

 and after tlie shortest day, during the supposed breeding-time 

 of these birds, calm always prevailed at sea, rendering it safe 

 for mariners to embark. This superstition is the origin of our 

 familiar term " halcyon days." 



The goldfinch was tolerably plentiful on the Snitterfield 

 estate, numbers feeding daily in a garden adjoining the Park 

 House in the village, and in some parts of the outlying bushes 

 the pretty little song could be heard constantly. ]!^ext to the 

 chaffinch, no bird builds a prettier nest, and in appearance it 

 is not unlike that of the aforesaid, but considerably smaller, 

 and is commonly placed in the fork of a fruit-tree wherever 

 it builds near habitations. The zealous efforts of bird-catchers 

 have done more to deprive us of the presence of this beautiful 

 species than all other causes put together, although the greater 

 cultivation of waste lands, and consequent eradication of thistles, 

 groundsel, dandelions, and similar weeds, on the seeds of which 

 they mainly subsist, has also had a disastrous effect. It is of 

 a most trusting disposition, and easily snared by means of a 

 call-bird, and, when once captured, with proper treatment is 

 readily tamed — hence, probably, the demand for it as a cage 

 pet. In most districts of Scotland it may practically be termed 

 extinct — more's the pity, as it is a decided ornament and a 

 welcome addition to our native fauna. As an instance in 

 passing of how whole districts have been cleared, I may men- 

 tion that about twenty to twenty-five years ago it was quite 

 common in Glen Urquhart and the sui'rounding glens of Inver- 

 ness-shire ; but for one or two seasons a bevy of professional 

 bird-catchers turned up, and, by dint of steady application, 

 utterly decimated the country-side — so much so, that, unless 

 my informant is deceived, the entire specimens observed since 

 that deplorable period could be counted on the fingers of one 

 hand. Its natural song is sweet, and the progeny produced 

 by crossing with a canary seem to inherit the fine qualities of 

 both species, and turn out excellent and powerful songsters — 

 in fact, too much so for people of nervous temperaments, to 

 whom the noise is anything but agreeable. 



