Proceedings. 29 



Greenfinch. — Very common. They seem rather specially 

 fond of the seeds of the Maple, and also eat the berries of the 

 Cotoneaster and the Cratmrjus Pyracantha, or perhaps it may 

 be only the stones that they care for. 



Hawfinch. — A tolerably common bird with us, and much 

 more often to be seen of late years. It often breeds with us, 

 several times at a considerable height in one particular 

 Hornbeam, and once only about nine feet from the ground, 

 in a Beech close to a path where persons were frequently 

 passing immediately under the nest, although it was well 

 concealed by some tufts of leaves. 



Goldfinch. — A pair built in a Laurel in 1858, but did not 

 rear their young ; I believe the only subsequent occasion on 

 which I have seen any here was a small flock in October, 1868. 



Linnet. — Tolerably common at times, but at others much 

 less so ; I do not think it always breeds. 



Lesser Eedpole. — I have a record of seeing a pair in 

 February, 1868, but am not sure of any other instance. 



Bullfinch. — We have generally several pairs about. 

 They seem very partial to the seeds of the Ash-tree in autumn 

 and winter. As spring comes on they fancy the buds, and I 

 think especially like to pick at the flower-buds of the Elms, 

 which come out some time before the leaves. 



Crossbill. — The gardener observed some in July, 1868, 

 and in Novembei' of the same year my brother saw several. 

 One of them appeared to be feeding on seeds of the Arbor Vita. 



Starling. — Very common. 



Crow. — Only seen on a very few occasions. 



Book. — Very common. In two or three years a single 

 nest has been built in one or other of our trees, but has 

 always been deserted. Books breed plentifully in Sir A. 

 Watson's groiuids just at the other side of the railway. 



Jackdaw. — Common as a visitor, but has never been 

 known to breed. 



Jay. — Only quite an occasional visitor. 



Green Woodpecker. — Visits our wood or garden now and 

 then, but is more readily heard than seen. On July 3rd last I 

 watched one for some time on the lawn apparently feeding, pro- 

 bably on ants, of which I found some afterwards at the place. 



