The Birds of Pembrokeshire. 21 
collect upon the coast. We have been informed that thirty- 
three dozen were caught at one time at Fishguard. Mr. Dix 
says: “I have seen as many as sixty or eighty in a flock in the 
autumn and winter, feeding upon the seeds of the grasses in the 
meadows.” One summer we detected six nests in our grounds ; 
the raspberry canes and some old plum trees covered with 
lichens, in the kitchen garden, providing the favourite sites. 
SISKIN, Cirypsomitris spinus.—A winter visitor ; rare. Mr. Tracy 
says: ‘Taken occasionally in the autumn feeding on the seeds 
of the birch and alder.” Not included by Mr. Dix, but in 
the list supplied us by Mr. H. Mathias. The bird-catchers 
catch a few, but not every winter, and inform us that it is never 
numerous. A flock of about twenty appeared in an alder-bed 
at Stone Hall at the beginning of December, 1866. 
GREENFINCH, Zigurinus chloris—A common resident. Only 
too numerous in our grounds, where in the old ivy-covered 
walls there were always plenty of nests. We were no admirers 
of this bright-plumaged bird, because of his ceaseless attacks 
upon our garden seeds in the spring. All had to be netted 
over, or nothing would have escaped him. One pair of Green- 
finches had the audacity to build their nest immediately above 
our seed bed, but they did not meet with the success they had, 
doubtless, anticipated. 
HAWFINCH, Coccothraustes vulgaris—A very rare winter visitor. 
In Mr. H. Mathias’ list. We saw a pair in the collection of the 
late Mr. Fortune, at Leweston, that he had shot near his resi- 
dence. Sir Hugh Owen obtained one at Llanstinan in the 
spring of 1854. A Sparrow-hawk, shot by the late Baron de 
Riitzen, at Slebech, September 13th, 1889, was in the act of 
carrying off a Hawfinch, which was secured with it. Not 
included by Mr. Dix. 
HOUSE SPARROW, Passer domesticus—A common resident. 
but rather scarce in the “ mountain ” districts. Mr. Dix writes: 
