THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 43 



middle of July, 1879, the Editor found swarmy of 

 young birds assembled in woods above the sea, near 

 Lynton, adults being remarkable for their absence. 

 It seemed probable that these birds had just crossed 

 from South Wales. Certainly such extraordinary 

 numbers could not have been reared in the locality. 

 Similarly, a great number of Chaffinches, in company 

 with Skylarks, visited Lundy Island at 1 p.m. on 

 September 9tli, 1880, with a fresh E.S.E. breeze, 

 (Migration Report for 1880, p. 104). 



B RAMBLmG. —Frwgilla monlifrimjilla, Liun. 



A WINTER visitant, of decidedly uncommon occurrence, 

 often associating with flocks of Chaffinches. I have 

 shot specimens at Broadclyst, Mr. Gratcombe met 

 with it near Plymouth, and Baron A. von Hiigel 

 records its presence at Torquay ; most of the 

 occurrences taking place in February, Avhen the birds 

 are probably beginning to move northwards. Its 

 occurrence at any season in North Devon is excep- 

 tional, but the Rev. M. A. Matliew records a male in 

 summer plumage, shot at Lankey near Barnstaple, 

 in 1856, on the remarkable date of July 20th. When 

 first observed, this solitary Brambling was flying 

 about a hedge in company with some Yellow 

 Buntings and Greenfinches, (Zool. 1857. p. 5846). 



LINNET.— Zmoi'r^ cmmallna, (Linn). 



An abundant resident, nesting plentifully on our 

 Commons, and gathering into large flocks in early 



