Bolam: The Natural History of Hornsea Mere. 51 
nest in a large thorn at ‘ the Mere End,’ Wassand, but this nest 
(like so many others) was, without any apparent cause, aban- 
doned a week later, after having been completed. The female 
did all the nest-building, though accompanied in all her journeys 
to and from the ground for materials by the cock, who contented 
himself by singing his approval. A brood of five was success- 
fully brought off close to the entrance to Wassand ; another 
in the grounds of the Hall; and two on the road-side elms on 
Hornsea Road. Another nest in an old ash tree—skilfully 
concealed amongst a bunch of ‘ keys ’—was built about the 
end of June, in the park close to East Lodge, and hen still 
sitting on nest (too high up to examine) when I left Wassand on 
20th July. In all quite half-a-dozen nests were seen, from 
which broods got off. 
SPARROW.—Of course common, but not so excessively 
numerous here. I more than once noticed a male ‘ worrying ’ 
a cockchafer on the road-side, an observation I have often 
before made in other localities. 
TREE SPARROW.—Not uncommon, and several nests seen ; 
one at East Lodge, another at Wassand, and one or two about 
Hornsea. A pair was feeding young, in a decayed willow in 
the Heronry Swamp, on 14th July. 
CHAFFINCH, of course common. 
MounTAIN Fincu.—A pair seen at the south side of Low 
Wood on morning of 26th April ; another pair on Hornsea road, 
north side of Mere, same afternoon, both males singing and in 
summer plumage. On 28th April, while watching Goldfinches 
building at ‘ Mere End,’ saw and heard a male Brambling in 
full song in the adjoining wood. This bird was also in full 
plumage. On 8th May, I came upon another (or the same) 
male in Low Wood, in full dress, singing right in the middle 
of ‘jungle,’ but nothing more was seen of them. 
LinNET.—One of the commonest birds here, nesting in 
road-side hedges, bushes, in the gardens, in willows, etc. in 
Low Wood, and elsewhere. 
REDPOLL.—A few pairs breeding here— about the usual 
number’ according to Taylor and others. A nest in roadside 
tree opposite Lady Island; another in high hedge near East 
Lodge. A pair was watched building on 20th May ; probably 
three nests or so, in all, on the Mere side. 
BULLFINCH.—Several nests; one fledged close to Hall in 
June ; another found sitting on five eggs in Heronry ‘ swamp,’ 
in a low sallow bush, overgrown and overshaded by reeds, 
beyond the margin of tree growth. Another nest in ‘ Fraser 
Wood.’ 
CoRN BuNTING.—Several pairs breeding on south side of 
Mere, round Heslop’s reeds, etc. Seems to be more numerous 
along the sea-coast fields. Those which came to breed on the 
1913 Jan. 1. 
