THE FINCHES 151 



Shetlands) seeks the stubble-fields, and even the stack-yards, feeding 

 on the grains of wheat; l as does the lesser redpoll, in the later summer, 

 on groundsel and seeds of the thistle, which it picks out whilst 

 hanging to the plant in the same manner as the goldfinch. 2 



As has been seen, the linnet is, to some extent, social, even in 

 his breeding habits, and this is also the case with the lesser redpoll, 

 since we are told by Sharpe and Dresser that "several pairs will 

 construct their nests close together." Yet they add that "this 

 appeai-s to be rather the exception than the rule, and may depend 

 on the locality being a favourite one." Yarrell confirms this, and 

 adds that " considerable numbers will often meet at places far from 

 their nests." 4 In regard to the mealy redpoll, as also the twite, there 

 appears to be no special evidence in this direction. 



The siskin, in winter, leaves the great conifer forests, where he has 

 carried on his domestic arrangements after a semi-social fashion for 

 one nest is seldom verv far from another and resorts to the lower- 



if 



lying champaign. Here the birds gather into flocks, which are often 

 of large size, and fly about the country till the returning spring awakes 

 in them fresh visions of courtship and a settled home. 5 Siskins and 

 redpolls often join company when thus flocking, and each of them 

 seems equally satisfied with the arrangement. It is stated by Forrest 6 

 that, in these winter gatherings, the male siskins always seem to out- 

 number the females. 



The greenfinch, chaffinch, and goldfinch all flock during the 

 autumn and winter, and all may be seen flying together, the first two 

 quite commonly and sometimes in large numbers, but it is only rarely 

 that they are reinforced by the third. The reason of this may seem 

 painfully obvious, yet goldfinches, when I have myself seen them 

 flocking, have kept very much to themselves. They flew in a wild, 

 fluttering, winter-butterfly way, over the barren fields, on which they 

 would suddenly descend before they had gone very far, and then, 



1 Saxby, Birds of Shetland. ' Ibid. 3 Birds of Europe. 



4 A History of British Birds. * Sharpe and Dresser, op. tit. s Fauna of N. Wale*. 



