MOUNTAIN FINCH OR BRAMBLING. 137 



that we have other shilfas which fly at the face to attract notice 

 and get crumbs from me on the ground; but Tibbie's wonderful 

 tameness seems to have been a special individuality of temper and 

 character. No such birdie will ever again charm me." 



THE MOUNTAIN FINCH OR BRAMBLING. 

 FRINGILLA MONTIFRINGILLA. 



THE Brambling is a regular winter visitant to the western main- 

 land, coming occasionally in immense flocks, which do not dis- 

 perse but keep to their line of flight. These passing companies 

 I have seen in the neighbourhood of the Stirlingshire hills, and Mr 

 Brown states that he has also seen them there. In January, 1867, 

 a very extraordinary mass of these birds was seen by that gentle- 

 man near his residence: it was passing overhead, and proceeding 

 in a north-easterly direction. To give Mr Brown's own words: 

 " The flock took the form of a column, which must have been at 

 least a quarter of a mile in length by some fifteen yards in breadth: 

 it presented a most singular appearance when viewed at some little 

 distance. Every slight alteration in the direction of the flight of 

 the birds in the van was copied by all the members of the flock 

 behind, thus giving to the column the appearance of a great winged 

 serpent as it twisted and undulated onward. They were flying at 

 no great height from the ground." 



Like other strictly migratory species, the Brambling arrives 

 during the night, particularly on the east coast, and is often 

 observed shortly after daylight flitting among the rocks or the 

 sea shore, evidently in a somewhat exhausted state after its 

 long flight; at such times it may almost be taken with the 

 hand. It appears at first to betake itself to the higher grounds, 

 but after a time, especially on the approach of snow, it de- 

 scends to low lying farms, where it becomes a familiar tenant 

 of the stackyard, mixing with chaffinches and yellow hammers. 

 On their first arrival, the plumage of both males and females 

 particularly the latter is suffused with a mealiness which makes 

 the various markings very indistinct; but as the months wear on 

 the males assume much clearer tints, and are really beautiful 

 birds just before their departure. In other parts of Scotland the 

 Brambling is equally numerous. I have found it plentifully in 



