188 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OP GLASGOW. 



Of the Bullfinch little is said, it having been observed only 

 once. The Green Linnet was " common everywhere." 



A long account is given of the House-Sparrow, and of the 

 behaviour of a pair which he reared in confinement. " By degrees 

 the one which appeared to be the hen grew black, and after her 

 first moulting became jet black, like any crow, with two white 

 spots on the wing." 



An interesting account of the Chaffinch follows that of the 

 Sparrow, but our space will not allow of the quotations one is 

 disposed to make. 



The ■• Grey Linnet is seen here in large flocks during the 

 winter months — numbers of them are caught then for the market, 

 where they are sold at 4d. each or so." 



The Canary, hens of which are " let away by unprincipled 

 people or escape," calls for no notice here. 



Of the Lesser Redpole, a few " are occasionally, though rarely, 

 seen with the flocks of Grey Linnets during winter." 



The Goldfinch, which is described as being " so common in 

 many parts of the country, is rare here, as he only pays us an 

 occasional visit after a winter storm, or the end of autumn when 

 the thistle seeds are flying about in numbers." 



Regarding the Cuckoo, nothing of importance is narrated. 



The Swallow "arrives here from about April 17th to 25th, and 

 remains with us to about September 26. . . They have 



generally two broods in the year." 



The House-Martin "arrives about the same time as the former, 

 April 23rd, and remains to September 26th. . . . This bird 

 is generally to be found with its nest in the window corners and 

 eaves of houses, and generally to a northern exposure. The nests 

 being thus protected from cracking by the sun's rays, and less 

 exposed to destruction from heavy rains, which very easily under- 

 mine the fragile materials of which they are composed. 

 Their nests are to be found on almost every window fronting the 

 Clyde." This species is described in the notes of an address 

 before referred to {ante, p. 181), as "much more common" than 

 the former. The statement is interesting in view of the opinions 

 frequently expressed about the recent decrease of this species in 

 numbers in various Scottish districts. A pair or two may be found 

 nesting at the present time from a mile and a-half to two miles 



