90 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



TWITE, Fringilla montium. A rare visitant, 

 appearing in autumn. Specimens have been obtained 

 at Kingsbury, Harrow, and Kilburn. On the 18th 

 October, 1863, I saw a solitary Twite on Harrow 

 Weald Common, and in October of the following 

 year several were taken alive by some birdcatchers 

 near Kingsbury Reservoir, from whom I purchased 

 two pairs for my aviary. The Twite may be readily 

 distinguished from its congeners by its long forked 

 tail and yellow bill. 



BULLFINCH, Pyrrhula vulgaris. Formerly very 

 common, but since it has become the custom to lay 

 the hedges, this bird, which delights so much in a 

 high tangled hedge, has become scarce. It used to 

 breed here regularly at one time, but now it is more 

 frequently observed in winter and early spring, 

 leaving us for some more favourable locality when 

 the breeding season arrives. 



In a summer-house belonging to Lord Mansfield 

 at Hampstead, a Bullfinch made its nest among the 

 honeysuckle and eglantine, and although the sum- 

 mer-house was constantly used, the bird was not 

 deterred from hatching five eggs. 



This species is occasionally subject to variety. 

 " A Pied Bullfinch was caught at Harrow during 

 the winter of 1862. It was a hen bird, with patches 

 of white about the crown of the head and both 

 wings." 



PINE GROSBEAK, Pyrrhula enucleator. Yarrell 



