CLXIX. 

 FRINGILLA MONTIFRINGILLA. 



Brambling. Mountain Finch. 



To the kindness of Mr. Dashwood 1 am indebted for the 

 pleasure it affords me to figure an egg, about which no- 

 thing has been before known. Mr. Dashwood has had the 

 Brambling for some years at his residence at Beccles, Suf- 

 folk ; and from him I have the following interesting notes. 



His aviary is a large one, enclosing a considerable piece 

 of ground, surrounded by ivy, and planted inside with 

 shrubs, so that the birds enjoy something of their native 

 liberty. 



The nest having been completed four days, the female 

 laid her first egg on the 16th of June, 1839, depositing 

 another daily till the 21st, when they were removed. 



" The nest was deep, the walls thick, a large quantity of 

 materials employed for the foundation, which was worked 

 among the stalks of the ivy-leaves. It was composed of 

 moss, wool and dry grass, and lined with hair. Portions 

 of the nests of the Chaffinch, Green Linnet, White-Throat 

 and Yellow Bunting were plentifiilly supplied, so that am- 

 ple choice of materials was afforded. 



" In the latter part of July of the same year another pair 

 of Bramblings built, placing their nest on the ground close 

 by the root of a shrub, on a tuft of grass. Outside of the 

 nest of moss, lined with hair. From this nest I removed 

 four eggs on the 1st of August. On the 17th of June, 1840, 

 they laid again, having built in the ivy. This nest I did 

 not disturb ; and although the eggs were hatched they did 

 not succeed in rearing the young ones." 



In a state of nature the Brambling would not have built 

 its nest upon the ground ; the materials chosen would pro- 

 bably have been the same. The eggs, as will be seen by 



