80 
of Scotland. A bird whose faults are few in number, and respecting 
which a sad mistake was made when certain parochial authorities 
placed a price upon its head; for the good it effects in spring by the 
capture of insects far outweighs the value of the few grains of corn 
in a pulpy state which it occasionally takes. 
163. Passer MoNTANUS 2 we we ee 8 Vol tii Rl. eXxexexehiiie 
TREE-SPARROW. 
A local species, and consequently much less widely diffused over 
the British Islands than the preceding: not so, however, with regard 
to its general distribution ; for it is as common at Shanghai and other 
parts of China as it isin Europe. Both in Scotland and Ireland it 
is local and rare. 
Genus FRINGILLA. 
The members of this genus of pretty birds as now restricted are 
but few in number. They all inhabit the northern and western 
portions of the Old World. England is frequented by two species. 
164. HRiIngicus canes  ~,9' 2" 2.4 wes)’ Vol SP eons 
CHAFFINCH, 
A bird of general distribution over the three kingdoms; but Mr. 
Augustus Smith tells me that in the Scilly Islands it only appears in 
winter. 
165. FRINGInEA MONTIFRINGIDDA . . . ~. Vol, DID. Pl, xox 
Bramere-F incr. 
A true winter visitant; gregarious. Arrives in autumn, probably 
from Norway and Lapland, where the process of reproduction has 
been accomplished. 
Genus CARDUELIS. 
A limited genus, of which our beautiful Goldfinch is the type, and 
whose only associates are the C. caniceps of the Himalayas and the 
C. orientalis of Central India. 
166, CaRpUELIS mnnaAns  .°72°".) “.” Joe Nielt TE Pip eee 
GoLpFINcH. 
A resident species, common and almost universally distributed 
over the British Islands, and equally plentiful on the neighbour- 
ing continent. 
Genus CurysoMIrris. 
Of this genus one species inhabits the Old World, and some seyen 
or eight are distributed over America, from California to Chili. 
