A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE 



55. Greenfinch. Ligurinus Morn (Linn.). 

 Locally, Green Linnet. 



A very common resident in all parts of the 

 county where hedgerows and trees are to be 

 found. Mr. J. Whitaker has two cinnamon- 

 coloured birds from the Ashbourne district. 



56. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vu/garis, Pallas. 

 Locally, Grosbeak (E. Brown), Haw Grosbeak 



(Pilkington). 



Originally only a winter visitor at irregular 

 intervals, the hawfinch is now well established 

 as a regular breeding species in many parts of 

 the county. Mr. E. Brown in 1863 sus- 

 pected that they bred in the Burton district, 

 and between 1876 and 1880 isolated nests 

 were found in many places in south and 

 central Derbyshire. At the present time it 

 breeds rather locally, but in considerable 

 numbers, in well wooded parks and gardens 

 all over Derbyshire, with the exception of 

 some parts of the High Peak. Like the 

 greenfinch, the hawfinch at times appears to 

 build almost gregariously. In 1901 no fewer 

 than seven nests were found in the grounds 

 of a house near Ashbourne. Hawfinches are 

 exceedingly shy birds and almost invariably 

 forsake their nests if disturbed before the 

 eggs are laid. They have a curious habit of 

 cutting off twigs from yew trees in order 

 to get at the berries, so that a tree frequented 

 by them has the appearance of having been 

 recently clipped. The bill is sufficiently 

 strong to crack the hard kernel of the cherry 

 with ease, and when undisturbed the noise 

 can be clearly distinguished some distance off. 



57. Goldfinch. Carduelis e/egans, Stephens. 

 Locally, Proud Tailor, Common Goldwing 



(N. Wood), Thistle Finch or Seven- 

 coloured Linnet (Glover). 



Formerly a common breeding bird, but 

 now only found in small numbers and chiefly 

 in the southern half of the county. A slight 

 increase in numbers has taken place during 

 the last year or two, perhaps because fewer 

 young are taken from the nest. In the Dove 

 valley a good many pairs nest among the 

 damson orchards, but chiefly on the Stafford- 

 shire side. On October 2, 1901, a nest 

 containing three young nearly fledged was 

 found in an apple tree between Sudbury and 

 Marchington, a remarkably late date. In 

 the autumn small flocks are occasionally met 

 with. 



58. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.). 



An irregular winter visitor, sometimes in 

 fair numbers. Mr. Neville Wood was of 

 opinion that a pair or two bred in the woods 



near Foston in 1831 and following years, but 

 although the birds were seen throughout the 

 summer the nest was never found. In the 

 Field for August 2, 1 902, is a communication 

 from C. R. Gurney, in which it is stated that 

 a siskins' nest with eggs was found near Rep- 

 ton in a small tree, about six feet from the 

 ground, during the summer of 1902. Large 

 flocks occurred in the winter of 1844-5, m 

 January, 1846 (J. J. Briggs and R. J. Bell), 

 and April, 1857 (Sir O. Mosley). Small 

 parties have been met with on many occa- 

 sions since that time. 



59. House-Sparrow. Passer domesticus (L'mn.). 



Common everywhere except on the moors. 

 Variations in plumage are not uncommon. 

 Whitlock records two albinos, also buff- 

 coloured, smoky white and mottled birds. 

 Nests have occasionally been found in the 

 winter months (Zoo/, i. 76). 



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



Rather a local and scarce species compared 

 with the house-sparrow, usually found breed- 

 ing in small colonies. According to Mr. H. 

 Seebohm (Hist. Brit. Birds, ii. 70) it is 

 found nesting in rocks in the High Peak. 

 Holes in trees and walls are more generally 

 used but it has been known to nest in trees 

 like the house-sparrow, and in 1885 I found 

 several pairs breeding in holes in old magpies' 

 nests in Bradley Wood, near Ashbourne. 



61. Chaffinch. Fringilla ccelebs. Linn. 

 Locally, Pied Finch, Piedy, Spink. 



A very common resident everywhere ex- 

 cept on the moors. A pretty variety of the 

 well-known eggs without spots or only faintly 

 clouded is not infrequently met with. In 

 the spring of 1 900 a nest was found at Clifton 

 studded all over with bits of newspaper in 

 place of the usual lichens. Mr. E. Brown 

 says a variety with green plumage has been 

 shot (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 99), and a 

 white bird was obtained early in 1902 (A. S. 

 Hutchinson). 



62. Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla. Linn. 



A somewhat irregular winter visitor, occa- 

 sionally occurring in large flocks, while in 

 other years only small numbers are met with. 



63. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.). 



Locally, Brown Linnet, White Linnet (N. 

 Wood). 



Not so numerous now as formerly, although 

 a fair number still breed with us. Mr. G. 

 Pullen has recorded a white bird (excepting 



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