178 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
known to breed in any part of England, although 
one instance of its doing so in Yorkshire is recorded 
in the ‘ Zoologist,’ and two supposed instances in 
other counties are mentioned by Meyer. 
The favourite food of the Brambling appears to 
be beech-masts, of which it is excessively fond: it 
also eats various sorts of grain and seeds, and in 
some parts is considered to be of great use to 
the agriculturist, in consequence of the quantity of 
seeds of the knot-grass which it eats: many of the 
Finches seem to be very fond of this grass, and it is 
always a great treat in the aviary. 
The Brambling is easily kept in confinement, and 
grows very tame. A pair which I have in my aviary 
are very fond of the seeds of almost all sorts of 
weeds, especially docks, a good feed of which, like 
the knot-grass, is a treat to nearly all the birds in 
the aviary. Asa set off, however, to the good the 
Brambling does in devouring the seeds of weeds, it 
is undoubtedly a very destructive bird to the young 
buds of almost every tree and shrub, pulling them to 
pieces and picking out the germ of both the leaf and 
flower-buds. 
The nest is said to be as neat as, and something 
like, that of the Chaffinch: itis formed of moss and 
lined with wool and feathers. 
The Brambling is a fine handsome bird, and is 
very interesting to watch throughout the year, in 
consequence of the great change of plumage exhi- 
