122 FRINGILUD^E. 



wise only to be read of in works of this and preceding time. 

 Conclusive evidence as to the baleful effect of improved 

 cultivation on Goldfinches has been given by many observers, 

 and by none better than Mr. Hepburn, who, writing (Zool. 

 p. 300) in 1843 of East Lothian, "where they were once as 

 plentiful as sparrows," says : " Grey-headed ploughmen 

 talk of their services among the thistles, and other weeds in 

 the outfield ; but infield and outfield, the wretched agri- 

 cultural practices of the olden times, have alike passed away, 

 and with them this bright finch, which is now only known 

 as a rare straggler." Here we have, we may hope, an 

 extreme case, but something like it has doubtless been long 

 going on almost every where in the island. 



It is still found, however, throughout Scotland to 

 Sutherland suitable localities, which in many parts are but 

 few and far between, being of course understood.* The 

 like may be said of Ireland, where, though inhabiting all 

 four provinces, it is by no means generally distributed, and, 

 according to Thompson, is capricious in its appearance, 

 deserting, without obvious reason, places which it formerly 

 frequented. Precise details of its distribution, especially as 

 regards the south-west, are wanting, but the same author says 

 that Cushandall in Antrim is its stronghold in Ulster, Mr. 

 R. Warren records it as resident and common about Killala 

 Bay, and Mr. A. L. Sinclair informs the Editor that it is 

 very common in Donegal in winter, though rare in summer. 

 It is not known to visit either Orkney or Shetland. In 

 Norway it is not with certainty known to breed further to 

 the northward than lat. 64J, and that only here and there, 

 but in Sweden it does not seem to extend beyond Upsala, 

 being however common in the south. In Finland it would 

 appear not to have been observed till 1840, and not yet to 

 have occurred except in a few spots on its southern coast. 



to our antipodes might be compelled to carry thither their antidote in this pleas- 

 ing bird ; and the fines, incurred by those who suffer the former to grow on their 

 property, might be worse spent than encouraging the propagation of the latter. 



* According to Don (as quoted by Mr. R. Gray) the hard winter of 1813 in- 

 flicted a loss upon the species which it never recovered, and Weir informed 

 Macgillivray that many perished in the deep snows of 1823. 



