A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



seven hundred swallows perished from cold and 67. Lesser Redpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieillot). 



wet. (Zoologist, 1886, p. 248.) Great flocks 

 frequent our meres in autumn before their 

 migration flight. 



55. House-Martin. Chelidon urbica (Linn.). 

 Equally common with the last species but 



later in arriving. For some unknown cause it 

 is often weeks later in some years than in others in 

 returning to its annually frequented haunts, 

 though abundant in neighbouring districts. 

 Numerous house-martins succumbed to the 

 disastrous weather of May 1886. 



56. Sand-Martin. Cotile riparia (Linn.). 



Locally, Grey Bob, Jitty. 



A resident, common in the lowlands of the 

 northern districts, where it nests freely. 



68. Twite. Linota Jlavirostris (Linn.). 

 Locally, Moor Linnet. 



A resident species nesting on all heaths and 

 moors both in the uplands and lowlands. 



69. Bullfinch. Pyrrhula europaa, Vieillot. 

 An abundant resident. 



70. Pine-Grosbeak. Pyrrhula enucleator (Linn.). 

 There exist two records of the occurrence of 



A summer visitor, numerous wherever it finds tne pine-grosbeak, one prior to 1837 at Hurlston, 



suitable sandbanks. 



57. Greenfinch. Ligurinus chloris (Linn.). 



Locally, Green Linnet. 

 A resident and generally distributed species. 



and the second in February, 1895, at Rochdale. 

 (Mitchell, Birds of Lancashire, ed. 2, p. 75.) 



71. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. 



The crossbill appears at intervals of a few 



In times of hard frost it frequents dwellings in year 



s in small flocks which frequent the pine 



association with starlings, sparrows, robins, and 

 gulls. 



58. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas. 

 Resident and fairly numerous, and becoming 



more so of late years. 



59. Goldfinch. Carduelis elegans, Stephens. 



A resident and widely distributed species, but 

 less numerous than formerly. 



60. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.). 

 Locally, Aberdevine. 



A winter visitor in small flocks. There is a 

 record of the siskin having bred near Lancaster 

 in 1836. (Mitchell, Birds of Lancashire, ed. 2, 

 P. 6 3 .) 



61. House Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linn.). 

 Abundant. 



62. Tree Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.). 



A resident occurring sparingly throughout the 

 county. 



63. Chaffinch. Fringilla ccelebs, Linn. 

 Locally, Pink-pink, Fleckie. 



A resident, and very common everywhere. 



64. Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla, Linn. 

 An occasional mid-winter visitor. 



65. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.). 

 Locally, Brown Linnet, Gorse-finch. 



A resident and common species throughout 

 the county in whin-covered moors and especially 

 in gorse fields not far from the sea. 



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

 This species was caught occasionally twenty 



years ago on Mellor Moor, as Mr. R. J. Howard 

 has satisfied himself. (Saunders, in Mitchell's 

 Birds of Lancashire, ed. 2, p. 73 .) 



194 



plantations. The occurrence of a bird of the 

 year at Morecambe in 1883 suggests its having 

 been bred in the county (Birds of Lancashire, 

 ed. 2, p. 76). In former times this species nested 

 regularly. 



72. Corn-bunting. Emberiza miliaria, Linn. 

 A resident and locally abundant species, espe- 

 cially on the lowlands of the Mersey Valley. 



73. Yellow Hammer. Emberiza citrinella, Linn. 

 Locally, Goldfinch, Yellow Yoldring, Bessy 



Blakeling. 



Abundant everywhere, often frequenting farm- 

 yards and lawns in company with sparrows. 



74. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. 



A very rare visitor. It is recorded to have 

 bred at Formby (Mitchell, Birds of Lancashire, 

 ed. 2, p. 79). 



75. Ortolan Bunting. Emberiza hortulana, 



Linn. 



A male of this species was killed near Man- 

 chester in November, 1827 (ZoologicalJournal, iii. 

 p. 498), and figured by Selby. (Mitchell, Birds 

 of Lancashire, ed. 2, p. 79.) 



76. Reed Bunting. Emberiza schaeniclus. Linn. 

 Locally, Blackcap, Reed Sparrow. 



A common resident, locally distributed. 



77. Snow Bunting. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). 

 Locally, Shore Lark, Mountain Bunting. 



An annual winter visitant to our shores in 

 considerable numbers. 



78. Lapland Bunting. Calcarius lapponicus 



(Linn.). 



A very rare winter visitant, and only four times 

 observed in Lancashire between the years 1834 

 and 1882. 



