124 NATURAL HISTORY AND 



never seen the common buntine in Bute, nor the 

 snow species all last winter. I have an Albino of 

 the former in my collection, shot by my son at 

 Fort-George. 



Immense flocks of finches congregate here all 

 winter, and are most useful to the farmer, consum- 

 ing the seeds of troublesome weeds which other- 

 wise would overrun the country. Where the land 

 is poorer the finches migrate southward in winter, 

 returning again to the north, when they separate 

 to breed. 



Green finches, and, of course, chaffinches, build 

 near this old castle the goldfinch and greyfinch 

 among the whins of the neighbouring brakes. 

 Although so hard -billed, all these finches eat 

 caterpillars and other insects moderately. The 

 truest seed-eater of the race is the goldfinch ; its 

 favourite food being thistle, chickweed, and dan- 

 delion seeds. The green and grey finches are 

 very partial to flax and lint seeds hence their 

 name of green and grey linties or linnets. 



In describing the birds around this ivied tower 

 of Bute, any one with a turn for natural history 

 will at once perceive that I have, link by link, 



