64 MOUNTAIN FINCH. 



Gloucestershire a few have been met with near Cheltenham; 

 and some in Warwickshire near Leamington. At Lilford, 

 Northamptonshire, the Hon. Thomas Littleton Powys has 

 once met with it, and the Rev. E,. P. Alington saw several 

 some years since, near Swinhope, Lincolnshire. 



In Scotland, and also in various parts of Ireland, it is 

 met with, and in some winters has been seen in very large 

 flocks in different counties. The character of the season 

 seems to be the cause that regulates its movements, at least 

 in any numbers. In severe ones, very many have accordingly 

 been discovered in places where few, if any, had ever been 

 seen before. A day or two before the very great snow-storm 

 that occurred in the beginning of January, 1827, one of 

 these birds alighted on the "Chieftain" steam-packet, on the 

 passage between Liverpool and Belfast. 



In the Orkney Islands, the only instance of its being noted 

 appears to be one which occurred at Lopness, in Sanday, 

 May 19th., 1839. 



Its habitat is in the wild and mountainous districts, from 

 whence its specific name, both scientific and vernacular. 



The Mountain Finch is a migratory species, being with 

 us as a winter visitor only. The dates of its appearance are 

 irregular, varying probably according to the state of the 

 weather in the countries from which they have migrated. 

 Bewick mentions their having been seen on the hills in the 

 county of Cumberland, so early as the middle of -August; 

 but it is at least possible that these might have been birds 

 which had been bred in that county the same summer, for 

 it would appear that some may do so, coupling the fact 

 just stated with the circumstance mentioned in 'London's 

 Magazine of Natural History,' for the year 1835, that on 

 the 6th. of May in that year, one was shot in a fir plantation 

 about four miles east of York. Meyer also records two or 

 three instances in which he believed that he saw the species 

 in summer. The usual time however of its arrival in Scotland 

 is the end of the month of October, or beginning of November; 

 the former being the date in the northern parts, the latter 

 in the more southern. In mild winters few, if any, advance 

 into England; while in severe weather they are driven forwards 

 in great numbers. They depart again in March. 



These birds go in flocks in winter, and Pennant mentions 

 that he received eighteen from Kent, which had been all 

 killed at one shot. Sometimes they are observed mixed with 



