BRITISH BIRDS. 



197 



and in some places the prodigious numbers that 

 are frequently caught are truly astonishing. In 

 Germany there is an excise upon them, which has 

 produced, according to Keysler, the sum of 6000 

 dollars in one year to the city of Leipsic alone. 

 Pennant says, the neighbourhood of Dunstable 

 is famous for the great numbers of these birds 

 found there, and that 4000 dozen have been 

 taken between September and February, for the 

 London markets. Yet, notwithstanding the great 

 havoc made among these birds, they are extremely 

 numerous. The winter is deemed the best season 

 for taking them, as they are then very fat, being 

 almost constantly on the ground, feeding in great 

 ilocks ; whereas in summer they are very lean ; 

 they then always go in pairs, eat sparingly, and 

 sing incessantly while on the wing. 



