List of Birds Examined. 



39 



Field Observations. 



I have watched large flocks feeding upon the seeds of charlock, 

 groundsel, and dock, also in fruit trees, but the nature of the 

 food I was unable to decide. They seemed very busy in the cracks 

 of broken bark, etc., probably the eggs of some insects formed the 

 food supply. 



Food of Nestlings. 



The ten nestlings examined showed that the food consisted of 

 the larvae of some small moth, a few Dipterous larvae, spiders, 

 aphids, and in two cases there were beetle remains. 



Conclusion. 



The linnet is a harmless bird, but it would be well to keep a 

 check upon it in districts where it has increased very rapidly in 

 recent years. 



BULLFINCH. 



Pyrrhula europaea, Vieillot. 



Considerable diversity of opinion exists both amongst fruit- 

 growers aod ornithologists as to whether this bird should be 

 included amongst those that are injurious or beneficial, thus in 

 a paper read before the Farmers' Club on April 3rd, 1905, Slater 

 (104) writes as follows : " The Bullfinch. A perfectly harmless and 

 altogether desirable neighbour, as it feeds on hedge fruits, seeds 

 of dock, thistle, and other weeds, except in February and March, 

 when it does serious damage, if not watched, to the gooseberry, 



