FRINGILLIDE. 173 
extent on insects, and their young ones are almost 
entirely fed upon this latter food. The gardener, 
I think, does not complain of the Buntings much, as 
they do not frequent his garden, keeping more to 
hedge-rows, lanes and homesteads. 
Family FRINGILLIDS. 
The Fringillide, or Finches, the family I have 
now arrived at, are not only numerous in species,— 
there being as many as nineteen recognized British, 
out of which I have been able to notice fourteen 
as Somersetshire birds,—but many of the species are 
very numerous: from their number and from the 
fact that they are all more or less grain- and seed- 
eating birds, their influence on the garden and the 
farm is considerable. 
Cuarrincy, Fringilla celebs. ‘The Chaffinch, or 
as it is sometimes locally called the “ Whitefinch,” 
is perhaps the most numerous of all our small birds, 
the well-known House Sparrow even not excepted. 
It is resident here throughout the year, and does 
not, as far as I can make out, receive any addition to 
its numbers during the winter, although at that time 
it flocks more, and consequently its numbers appear 
greater than when it is spread over the country 
singly oz in pairs. Being, like the rest of its family, 
Q 3 
