INSESSORES. 81 



these resort to the banks of this reservoir m autumn, 

 that I have frequently seen half-a-dozen London 

 birdcatchers busily employed there with their nets 

 all day long in the month of October. The birds 

 generally caught are Larks, Greenfinches, Chaf- 

 finches, Goldfinches, Linnets, and Lesser Redpoles, 

 and, occasionally. Twites, Bramblings, and Tree 

 Sparrows. I have frequently questioned some of 

 these veteran birdcatchers as to the species captured 

 by them at different times, and seldom without ob- 

 taining some interesting information from them. 

 All agreed in saying that the Lesser Redpole is 

 becoming very scarce, and that they do not take as 

 many in a season now as they used formerly to take 

 in a week. A Mealy Redpole has not been caught 

 for many years. The Twite has always been more 

 or less uncommon, and one of the most difiicult 

 birds to take is the Brambling ; for this bird is so 

 very sh}^, that it will cross and recross the nets 

 without alighting. If it flies low enough, therefore, 

 it is generally caught on the wing by pulling the nets 

 as it flies across. The Brambling has been seen 

 here in February, and I have a handsome male that 

 was caught at Edge ware as late as April 18th. I 

 have kept two pairs of Bramblings in an aviary since 

 October, 1864, in company with Linnets, Gold- 

 finches, Twites, Lesser Redpoles, &c., but they 

 have as j^et shown no disposition to breed, although 

 provided with materials for a nest, and set a good 



