A HISTORY OF SURREY 



59. Spotted Flycatcher. Muscicapa grisola, 



Linn. 



A common summer visitor, arriving about 

 the middle of May and leaving again in 

 September. Very generally distributed over 

 the county. 



60. Swallow. Hirundo rustica, Linn. 



An abundant and familiar summer visitor, 

 arriving about the middle of April and leaving 

 in October or even earlier. 



61. House-Martin. Che'idon urbica (Linn.). 



Another very common summer visitor, 

 rather more abundant than the preceding 

 species, which it much follows in its arrival 

 and departure. 



62. Sand-Martin. Cattle riparia (Linn.). 



A common summer visitor, arriving and 

 leaving about the same time as the swallow. 

 Breeds in colonies in holes in high banks, 

 sand-pits and similar localities, and is to that 

 extent local in its distribution. 



63. Greenfinch. Ligurinus Moris (Linn.). 



A common resident, nesting freely on the 

 commons and in the hedges of all parts of 

 Surrey. With other finches it packs in 

 winter in considerable and often immense 

 flocks, and then frequents the stubbles and 

 rickyards. 



64. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas. 



At one time regarded as of rare occurrence 

 in Great Britain, this species has since been 

 recognized as a common enough resident in 

 this and many other counties. It is shy and 

 easily alarmed, and except during the autumn 

 and winter months frequents the thick woods 

 where it nests, though it sometimes favours 

 an orchard. Although it would not be 

 proper to term it abundant in Surrey it is of 

 fairly general distribution, and perhaps as 

 common in this county as in any other part 

 of England (Bucknill, pp. 98-102). 



65. Goldfinch. Carduelis elegans, Stephens. 

 Has decreased of late years very consider- 

 ably. Rather a rare nesting species at the 

 present day, and as a winter visitor of much 

 less common occurrence than formerly, al- 

 though in severe weather it still is to be 

 found in some places in considerable numbers. 



66. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.). 



A rather irregular winter visitor, occurring 

 however in certain spots in some usually 

 hard seasons in tolerable abundance. Has 

 also been recorded nesting in the county on 

 a few occasions. 



67. House-Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linn.). 

 An abundant resident throughout the whole 



of the county. 



68. Tree-Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.). 

 Mainly a winter visitor, although a few 



breed, usually in small colonies, very locally. 

 In some winters it appears in large numbers, 

 and in others is conspicuous by its absence. 



69. Chaffinch. Fringilla coelebs, Linn. 



A common resident throughout the county. 

 In winter it assembles in large packs, often 

 composed of one sex. 



70. Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla, Linn. 

 A not uncommon winter visitor, but of 



irregular appearance. Severe winters appear 

 favourable to its occurrence, and when it does 

 occur it is usually abundant. 



71. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.). 



A common enough resident in the rural 

 districts, where it frequents the furze com- 

 mons. In winter it is gregarious and is then 

 caught in some numbers by the birdcatchers. 



72. Mealy Redpoll. Linota linaria (Linn.). 

 An irregular and apparently rare winter 



visitor to the county, in which it has been 

 occasionally noticed. It is, however, doubt- 

 less often overlooked, although recognized as a 

 distinct species by many birdcatchers (Bucknill, 

 pp. 112, 113). 



73. Lesser Redpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieillot). 

 A fairly common winter visitor to many 



parts of the county ; on a few occasions it 

 has been found nesting in Surrey, and it is 

 probable that it remains with us more often 

 than is generally believed. It is extremely 

 fond of the seed of the alder. 



74. Twite or Mountain-Linnet. Linota 



flavirostris (Linn.). 



A winter visitor of considerable rarity, al- 

 though from its resemblance to other mem- 

 bers of the genus it no doubt sometimes passes 

 unnoticed. Has been recorded on several oc- 

 casions (Bucknill, pp. 115, 1 1 6). 



75. Bullfinch. Pyrrhula europtsa y Vieillot. 

 A common resident, breeding freely in 



most parts of the county. Owing to its 

 bright colour it is more often popularly 

 noticed in winter than when the foliage is 

 on the trees. 



76. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra. Linn. 

 Generally speaking an autumn and winter 



visitor of capricious and local appearance. A 

 few localities seem to be favoured annually 

 with its presence, and it has nested and pro- 



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