ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM A SOUTH LONDON SUBURB. 
BRAMBLING. 
This is another species that formerly—viz., before Brixto2 
and Herne Hill became connected by continuous bricks and 
mortar—passed regularly over my garden on the autumn migra- 
tion; now, the bird is only of very irregular appearance. At 
that time, too, I occasionally found a few feeding on the waste 
eround in the neighbourhood, and even so lately as 1895, during 
a hard frost in February, a male bird came daily with Chaffinches. 
to the seeds, etc., scattered on the path for the starving birds. 
As autumn migrants they were invariably associated with the 
Chaffinch flocks, but easily identified by their short call-note or 
occasional “squeak,” being far more talkative when travelling 
than their cousins. By flight alone, however, there is a diff- 
culty in differentiating the two species, and my failing powers. 
of hearing may partly account for my fewer records of late 
years, especially as the Chaffinch companies show no diminu- 
tion. Only in late years have | noticed the bird in late spring. 
On April 15th, 1906; April 22nd, 1907; and April oth, 1908, 
I came across solitary examples in the birch trees in Dulwich 
Wood. Further examples this year at the same place, on 25th 
April and oth May, 1909. 
LINNET. 
This is not a genuine resident in the district, so far as my 
observations go, although it might well breed—and probably 
does so—on Mitcham Common. In the year 1906 it possibly 
nested in the Dulwich district, for on a gorse bank near Lord- 
ship Lane I noted one there in April, and three in the follow- 
ing June. In my immediate neighbourhood it has been ob- 
served partly as a migrant, but more frequently as a chance 
visitor. In the former capacity I have records of small flocks 
passing W., with other Finches, in the Octobers of 1874, 1876, 
1884, and 1887, whilst the so-called chance birds have occurred 
at all times of the year, though chiefly in the summer months. 
Some, undoubtedly, have been escapes from confinement. Of 
the latter class I have the following records:—August, 1899, 
one in my garden; February 10th, 1890, one singing 1n a neigh- 
bouring garden; one also singing there on the oth March. 
From the 26th May till the 11th June, 1892, a fine red-breasted 
bird haunted my aviary roof daily, and was endowed with a song 
as fine as his dress. Between 1896 and Igor, in the spring of 
each year, a bird appeared about my aviary for a few days, 
no doubt attracted by the inmates. This last autumn (1909) 
a flock passed W. on 21st October. 
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