192 



THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



This statement was published in 1860. The editor 

 of the edition of Yarrell's * British Birds ' goes on, 

 loc. supra cit., to quote Mr. Swaysland, a well-known 

 bird-preserver at Brighton, who, in his evidence 

 before the Select Committee on Wild Birds Pro- 

 tection, printed July 23, 1873, states that formerly a 

 boy could catch forty dozens of Goldfinches in a 



-A. Prickly Question. 



morning within ten miles of Brighton, whereas they 

 are now comparatively scarce, and not a hundred 

 may be seen even at the most favourable time of 

 year. In April our flocks of Goldfinches break up, 

 and leaving their favourite autumn and winter 

 resorts in the rough pastures and the roadside fences, 

 distribute themselves in pairs about our shrubberies 



