BRAMBLING. 203 



gration, in extraordinary quantities, was witnessed tinder 

 the following singular circumstances. Mr. Samuel Blyth, 

 whose local observations, as a thoroughly practical 

 naturalist, I have before referred to, assures me that, 

 just prior to the very sharp weather that set in about 

 the middle of January, he noticed at Framingham, near 

 Norwich, for several successive days, large nights of 

 birds passing low over the fields in a southerly direction. 

 They appeared always at the same time, from about 

 half-past three till nearly dusk, flying for the most part 

 level with the fences, occasionally having to rise at them 

 when higher than usual. After noticing them for 

 several days, he at last shot into one large flock at about 

 sixty yards, and dropped one bird which proved to be a 

 Brambling, and the same result followed on two subse- 

 quent occasions. In order to ascertain if they were 

 really making a continuous flight, or merely returning 

 to some favourite roosting place, after a foraging 

 expedition during the day; he watched for them, on one 

 occasion, from the early morning, but not one was seen 

 to come from the contrary direction. At the usual 

 time, however, in the afternoon, large flights again 

 appeared in their accustomed line, keeping straight 

 on with a sort of settled purpose, so noticeable in other 

 species on their migratory course.*" 



* The following equally curious statement, respecting the migra- 

 tion of this species, appeared in a letter to the " Times" (March 

 23rd, 1865), from Mr. A. E. Atkins, of Farnham Court, Slough : 

 " Some of your readers may be interested by the mention of a fact 

 which in this neighbourhood, at least, is without parallel ' in the 

 memory of the oldest inhabitant.' A large flock of bramblefinches 

 have taken up their residence in Stoke-park. Their numbers may 

 be estimated when I state that the flight, which was seen starting 

 from their roosting place one morning, continued streaming on 

 without intermission for thirty-five minutes. The person who 

 noted this killed forty-five at one shot. I may mention that before 

 they came to their new quarters thousands of starlings congre- 

 2 D 2 



