BIRDS 



56. Goldfinch. Carduelis eiegans, Stephens. 

 Though much less abundant in the county 



than formerly the goldfinch is found breeding 

 in many places. In the end of autumn or 

 early in winter its numbers are increased by 

 the arrival of companies varying in number 

 from five or six to twenty or thirty. At 

 that time the seeds of thistles, teasels and 

 burdocks constitute its chief food, but in 

 midwinter the alder and ash trees are visited 

 and their seeds consumed. It is only how- 

 ever the germ of the seed of the ash which is 

 picked out and eaten. In the north side of 

 the county, that is in the Birmingham dis- 

 trict, Mr. Chase, writing in 1886, reports 

 the goldfinch as scarce. 



57. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.) 



The appearance of the siskin as a winter 

 visitor to Warwickshire depends almost wholly 

 on the presence or the absence of alder trees, 

 though whole seasons pass without its being 

 seen even when trees of that kind thickly 

 fringe the streams. In some winters the sis- 

 kin has appeared in very considerable num- 

 bers in the immediate vicinity of the town of 

 Warwick and also in the alder trees around 

 the large fishponds at Coughton Court near 

 Alcester and probably at other localities. 



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

 Abundant everywhere. 



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

 Much less abundant than the house-sparrow 



and very seldom seen in the close vicinity of 

 houses. The nest however is sometimes in 

 the thatch of an old building but generally 

 outside, as for instance under the eaves. Pol- 

 lard withy trees remote from all dwellings 

 are favourite places for the nest of this 

 species. 



60. Chaffinch. Fringilla coelebs, Linn. 

 This pretty and lively little bird is a very 



torment at certain seasons to the growers of 

 cruciferas, more especially radishes, and it 

 seems to have a sort of intuitive knowledge 

 of the places where the seeds have been sown 

 even before the young plants make their 

 appearance. As soon however as they show 

 themselves they are pulled up and a part eaten ; 

 the ground is sometimes literally strewn with 

 the long white underground stems. 



61. Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla, Linn. 

 An uncertain winter visitor which some- 

 times appears in considerable numbers in most 

 parts of the county and mixes with flights of 

 finches in weedy stubbles, amongst which 



they are conspicuous from their white rumps. 

 Occasionally they approach farmsteads and 

 feed on the seeds which have been winnowed 

 from the corn and thrown out. 



62. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.) 



The linnet is one of those birds which is 

 as numerous as ever. A weedy stubble in 

 the autumn where there is plenty of scattered 

 charlock seed is a certain attraction and will 

 bring an abundance of linnets. Any thick 

 bush or hedge is suitable for a nesting-place, 

 though a gorse bush is preferred. 



63. Lesser Redpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieillot) 



As a Warwickshire bird this has always 

 been regarded by the present writer as a win- 

 ter visitor, frequenting the alder trees by the 

 sides of the streams and feeding on their seeds 

 and also on those of the willow herb. Once 

 only has a nest been noted. It was in the 

 leafy branch of a plum tree in a garden at 

 Alcester. However, in the northern part of 

 the county it has probably nested more fre- 

 quently, and Mr. Chase speaks of it as 

 common and resident in the Birmingham dis- 

 trict. 



64. Twite. Linota flavirostns (Linn.) 



A rare winter straggler, occasionally appear- 

 ing in severe weather and making its presence 

 known by its peculiar and monotonous note. 



65. Bullfinch. Pyrrhula europtea, Vieillot. 



The bullfinch though a common resident 

 is not abundant. Of a shy and retiring 

 nature it is not however a wild or wary bird, 

 but may be approached quite nearly when 

 feeding on the buds of fruit trees or on the 

 long seeds of the ash. 



66. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. 



A winter visitor of very uncertain appear- 

 ance, but sometimes arriving as early as 

 August. In 1845 a considerable number made 

 their appearance at Claverdon, and several 

 were shot and brought to J. Spicer of War- 

 wick for preservation. All were red birds. 

 Crossbills have been shot at various times in 

 the park at Warwick Castle, which also have 

 come into the hands of the same bird preserver. 

 On 14 November, 1855, a flight of these 

 birds alighted in a coppice of conifers at Little 

 Alne near Alcester, several of which were 

 shot and brought to the present writer. They 

 were of all colours, from red to a dingy green. 

 In the Birmingham district the crossbill has 

 occurred at Solihull, Wylde Green and Aston 

 Park as recorded by Mr. Chase. 



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