NOTES AND QUERIES. 71 



Migration of Linnets. — Admitting the truth of Mr. Harold 

 Eussell's remark that "it is often easy to be mistaken in asserting 

 that a bird is not fomid in a certain locality," I think it may be said 

 that, as far as I know, the Linnet entirely disappears from this 

 district in Sussex during the winter months. This, however, is a 

 rule, like most others, to which there are exceptions — because I do 

 occasionally see one here in the winter. A few may sometimes be 

 seen here until the first week or ten days in December, but as a rule 

 the Linnet is absent from the end of November until well into 

 March. — Eobebt Moeeis (Uckfield, Sussex). 



Eefeeeing to Mr. Eussell's communication {a^bte, p. 29), the total 

 disappearance of Linota cannahina from the county of Surrey during 

 the winter season is information which comes rather as a surprise to 

 me, though Mr. Eussell is not likely to be mistaken on this point. I 

 did, however, think, up to seeing Mr. Eussell's note, that at least the 

 migration would have been but partial, especially in mild winters. 

 The Linnet usually leaves this district about the end of September, 

 almost to a bird, and does not return until March. It is one of the 

 few species which has greatly diminished in this district within the 

 last thirty years, notwithstanding the operation of the Wild Birds 

 Protection Act and the total disappearance of the bird-catching 

 fraternity which used to be in much evidence here. It is quite true 

 that whin-covers have greatly diminished within comparatively recent 

 years, but neither this factor nor the improved methods of agriculture 

 which now prevail can but very inadequately explain its relative 

 scarcity as compared with former years. What makes its scarcity 

 still more a puzzle is the abundance of its favourite food in summer, 

 viz. the seed of the dandelion, which afford it a perennial supply 

 throughout the summer months. When the furze-covers died out it 

 began to breed in whitethorns, but, next to the furze-bush, it prefers 

 plantations of young spruce and pine trees. One variety I used to 

 see when I was a boy with a yellowish breast ; these were named by 

 bird-catchers " Femon birds," and were regarded by these gentry as 

 old birds. It is a good many years since I saw this variety, but 

 whether the colour is due to age, as alleged, I am unable to say. In 

 taking my walks amongst what used to be the breeding haunts of 

 this species, I feel the loss of its charming song more than I can 

 express in words, and often sigh for a sound of its voice. No more 

 interesting bird used to be found on our uncultivated hillsides.— 

 E, P. BuTTEEPiELD (Wilsden, Bradford). 



