lyS BRAMBLING. 



been observed in the beech -woods of Armagh and the north-eastern 

 districts, and also in co. Cork. 



To the Fjeroes the BrambUng is only an exceptional visitor. On 

 the mainland it breeds throughout the sub-Arctic pine and birch 

 forests, from Norway to the valley of the Amur ; while on mi- 

 gration it occurs in Japan, Ciiina, Northern India, Asia Minor and 

 the whole of Europe ; but it is only in very severe winters that it 

 pushes its wanderings to the African side of the Mediterranean. 

 Immense flocks sometimes visit Belgium, Holland, Germany and 

 Heligoland ; but statements that this species has nested in the 

 Pyrenees, the Alps, or the Ardennes, are as yet unconfirmed. 



As a rule, the Brambling breeds at higher altitudes than those fre- 

 quented by the Chaffinch ; and its nest, usually placed where a branch 

 meets the stem of a birch- or fir-tree, but sometimes in small juniper 

 bushes, is bulkier, less compact, and largely composed of birch-bark. 

 Several pairs generally breed in company. The eggs, 6-7 in number, 

 laid late in May or early in June, are, as a rule, rather greener than 

 those of the Chaffinch and have more defined markings, but many 

 of each species are quite indistinguishable : average measurements 

 •8 by "6 in. The Brambling has bred several times in captivity. 

 Its food consists of insects, small seeds — especially those of the 

 knot-grass, beechmast, and the kernels of nuts. The call-note is a 

 harsh chirp, but the song of the male during the breeding-season 

 consists of several flute-like notes, resembling those of the Redwing. 



The adult male in breeding-plumage has the head, cheeks, nape 

 and back glossy blue-black with white bases to the feathers, which 

 sometimes show in the form of an irregular collar ; upper wing- 

 coverts orange-buff, tipped with white ; greater coverts black, margined 

 with white, which forms a conspicuous bar ; quills mostly brownish- 

 black, with whitish exterior margins ; rump white, mottled with 

 black ; tail-feathers black, with a little white at the base of the outer 

 pair ; throat and breast reddish fawn-colour ; belly dull white ; 

 flanks spotted with black ; under wing-coverts bright yellow ; bill 

 bluish-black ; legs brown. Length 6 in. ; wing 3 "6 in. In autumn 

 and winter the black feathers of the head and back have long margins 

 of reddish-brown, as represented in the woodcut, which are shed in 

 spring ; a warm orange-brown pervades the wing- and tail-coverts, 

 breast and flanks ; and the bill is yellow, with a black tip. The 

 female is dull brown on the upper parts and has none of the rich 

 black and chestnut markings of the male. The young at first 

 resemble the female, but the males soon show signs of black on the 

 head and back, and the under parts are brighter fawn-colour. 



