NOTES AND QUERIES. 29 



and females here is not so marked as in the district to which Mr. 

 Brock refers, but of course much depends upon the weather. As 

 regards the direction of the opening of the face of nest, much depends 

 upon the configuration of the ground in the nesting area. Where the 

 ground slopes abruptly to the north, it is only natural to suppose that 

 the general direction of the opening of the nest will have a northern 

 aspect ; other things, however, being equal, I think they seem to 

 prefer a southern aspect. — E. P. Butteefifld (Bank House, Wilsden, 

 Bradford). 



Migration of Linnets in Surrey. — About three years ago I noticed 

 for the first time the complete disappearance of Linnets {Acanthis 

 cannahina) from this part of the country in winter. My observations 

 extend more or less to the whole county, except the extreme east and 

 west. Eoughly speaking. Linnets seem to disappear from October 

 to March, and the careful notes I have kept during the last three 

 winters convinces me that I am not overlooking the species. It is 

 often easy to be mistaken in asserting that a bird is not found in a 

 certain locality. I need hardly add that in the breeding season 

 Linnets are very conspicuous and abundant on the gorse-commons of 

 Surrey. I should like to know whether other observers confirm the 

 existence of this migratory movement. There is no mention of the 

 fact in Bucknill's ' Birds of Surrey,' nor in any of the regular text- 

 books that I have looked at. Is this movement something new ? 

 Does it extend to other southern counties of England ? What has 

 been observed as to the migratory habits in Linnets ? — Harold 

 EussELL (Shere, Surrey). 



An Albino Bunting. — In reference to Mr. Warde Fowler's inte- 

 resting note on the above (vol. xiv. p. 471), I may say that in March, 

 1905, in North Anglesey, I saw a very pale coloured Bunting, though 

 not an albino, which was undoubtedly a Yellowhammer. It was in a 

 flock of about fifty Yellowhammers about a farmyard, and was very 

 conspicuous amongst the other birds. The primaries and tail-feathers 

 were practically white, and the rest of the plumage more or less fawn- 

 coloured. On the wing it looked very much like an escaped Canary. 

 — S. G. CuMMiNGS (Upton, Chester). 



Birds and Berries. — Mr. Aphn (vol. xiv. p. 394) remarks on the 

 partiality of the Greenfinch for the berries of the sweet-briar, a fact 

 which I have particularly observed for many years past. We have 

 here a small shrubbery or thicket which was planted with a view to 

 providing a quiet and secure retreat for the birds, and a supply 

 of food for them in the shape of berries. The berry-bearing shrubs 



