150 THE GOLDFINCH. 



finches was seen at East Mains, Lauder, in December 1874, 

 and several flocks during the winter of 1874-75.^ In the 

 same winter they visited the sunny braes of Old Thirle- 

 stane,^ and three were seen in the previous October on the 

 hill above Preston.^ Several were observed at Thorny- 

 dykes near Westruther, by Mr. John Ferguson, Duns, on 

 the 9th of February 1877 ; * and the Eev. W. Stobbs records 

 the occurrence of a pair about Gordon in the summer 

 of 1880.^ Mr. Lockie, Spottiswoode, informs me that they 

 are occasionally seen in the vicinity of Legerwood Loch. 

 Mr. John Thomson, Maxton, writes to me that in January 

 and February 1886, several flocks were seen at Milfield 

 and the Willow Bogs near Mertoun. The banks of the 

 Whitadder, near Edrington Mill, are still occasionally 

 frequented by these beautiful birds; several having been 

 caught there in December 1886, by Mr. John Edgar, Paxton, 

 with a call-bird and lime twigs stuck round its cage. Miss 

 Georgina Milne-Home, Milne Graden, procured two pairs of 

 Goldfinches from the south of England in the spring of 

 1886, and, for the purpose of trying if they would remain 

 and nest, she set them at liberty in the policy-grounds 

 there, shortly after their arrival. This laudable attempt 

 to introduce the bird to that neighbourhood is said to have 

 been successful. 



The nest is very neat, and somewhat resembles that 

 of the Chaffinch, being, like that of the latter bird, often 

 built 



Fast to the blushing apple's forked branch. 

 Amid the blossom of the codlin tree. 



HURDIS. 



1 Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. vii. p. 289. "- Ibid. vol. vii. p. 521. 



3 Ibid. vol. viii. p. 494. * Ibid. vol. viii. p. 192. 



6 Ibid. vol. ix. p. 230. 



