94 Frinyillida'. 



very large flocks, amounting to thousands; when forty were 

 killed at one shot, and six or seven dozen were trapped by a 

 birdcatcher in one day. Its visits here, however, are most 

 irregular, and several consecutive winters often elapse without 

 the arrival of a single individual. By the Maryborough College 

 Natural History Reports, I learn that flocks were seen in that 

 neighbourhood in January, 1871 ; that early in February, 1873, 

 vast numbers arrived, and were to be found all round the town, 

 when thirty-five were secured at a single shot ; that in December, 

 1875, they were again seen in large flocks on the farms bordering 

 on Marlborough Forest, and that in 1877 they were common on 

 the downs above Rockley. Lord Arundell mentions one that 

 had been brought to him which was killed at Wardour. Mr. 

 Grant has furnished me with a list of twenty-two which have 

 passed through his hands for preservation since 1863, which 

 were taken at Berwick Bassett, Netheravon, Keevil, Patney, 

 Roundway, Wedhampton, Collingbourne, Lavington, Allington, 

 All Cannings, and Bratton. Lord Radnor writes me word in 

 March of this year (1887) that he picked up one dead at Long- 

 ford ; while the Rev. A. P. Morres says they were common both 

 this year and last about Britford, and that seven were killed at 

 one shot in Longford Park. In the name Fringilla monti- 

 fringilla there is unnecessary repetition ; frlngilla is defined 

 to mean 'a bird that squeaks or twitters/ but 'the twitterer 

 mountain twitterer' is clumsy. In France it is Le Pinson 

 d' Ardennes; in Germany and Sweden, Bergfink ; in Italy, 

 Fringuello montanino ; in Spain, M octanes; and in Portugal, 

 Tentilhdo montez. 



The Mountain Finch, when it appears here, is always found 

 associating with the Chaffinches, which it much resembles in 

 habits, but is conspicuous amongst them by its exceedingly 

 handsome plumage of black, white, and fawn-colour so mingled 

 as to form a pleasing contrast. Its true habitat is in the vast pine 

 forests of Northern Europe, where it breeds, not fearing to 

 penetrate to the far north, even to the woods which come down 

 to the borders of the Icy Sea ; and where it finds its favourite 



