70 THE FINCHES 



west Africa, Corsica and Sardinia, the Canaries, which are inhabited by local races. 

 In England it is local, and, after a period of great decrease, is now to some extent 

 on the increase again owing to protection (for summaries cf. J. A. Harvie-Brown, 

 ZooL, 1903, p. 23; and Witherby and Ticehurst, British Birds, vol. i. p. 179). 

 In Scotland it is now very scarce, and is nowhere common even in the south 

 and centre, while it is very rare in the north, although it has nested in Skye 

 and Caithness. [F. c. R. J. A. L. T.] 



3. Migration. The migratory movements in Great Britain comprise 

 (a) an autumn immigration of continental birds on the east coast (cf . H. Saunders' 

 Manual, 1899, and Nelson, B. of Yorkshire, 1907, p. 171). The return migration 

 has been little noticed ; and (b) subsequent southward emigration of the same birds 

 along with the goldfinches which are summer visitors to our own country. This last 

 is at its height in October, and the corresponding spring immigration takes place 

 chiefly during the latter half of April and the first week of May, and at this season 

 they have been recorded as arriving in hundreds in Somerset (cf . B. 0. C. Migration 

 Reports, ii. p. 178, iii. p. 182). As well as being a summer visitor and a bird of 

 passage, it is a resident species. In Ireland it is resident, and " the reports from 

 lighthouses do not seem to prove a transmarine migration, but rather betoken 

 irregular movements round Ireland" (Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900). 

 The B. 0. C. Reports (loc. cit.) record the species as migrating in flocks, but, 

 according to Gatke, it is usually a solitary migrant (cf. Heligoland as an Ornith. 

 Observatory, 1895, p. 389). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : trees, especially fruit-trees, shrubs, less 

 often in hedges. Nest : neatly built of moss, lichen, roots, wool, webs, and other 

 material, lined with hair, wool, down, and perhaps feathers. (PI. iv.) It is con- 

 structed by the hen according to Brehm and Dresser, by both sexes according to 

 Bailly, Ornith. de la Savoie. Naumann states that the cock occasionally helps in 

 carrying material. The eggs, usually 4-6 in number, are thin shelled, with a faint 

 bluish tinge and a few distinct spots and streaks of deep red-brown, sometimes 

 almost black, and a few fainter red-grey markings. Average size of 100 

 eggs, '67 x -50 in. [17 x 12'9 mm.]. (PL B.) Laying begins in May. The hen 

 incubates (Brehm ; N. Quepat, Monographic du chardonneret ; F. E. Daniel, 

 in litt.). Period of incubation about 14 days. The young remain in the 

 nest about a fortnight (N. Quepat, op. cit.). Usually 2 broods. [F. c. E. J. 

 F. B. K.] 



5. Food. Seeds, insects. The young are fed, according to Bailly, on seeds 



