112 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



than it precipitated and swooped in a most violent manner, disputing 

 my passage at every step, and I was fearful at times lest it should 

 hurl itself against my head, but this it did avoid, though at the least 

 possible margin of actuality. I ascertained that the young had 

 fledged, and noticed that the male bird kept at a safe distance. 

 When this species has young it is usually noisy and even bold in its 

 attack on any intruder into its haunts, but this I consider mildness 

 itself in comparison with the fierceness and vehemence displayed in 

 the above incident. — E. P. Butteefield (Wilsden, Bradford). 



Are House-Martins Decreasing ? — Of late years there has been no 

 little controversy as to whether Chelidon urbica is decreasing, but 

 from observations extending over a considerable number of years it 

 would be difficult for us to predicate with certainty that such is the 

 case. There is little doubt but that it can be affirmed to be less 

 numerous in many of its old haunts than formerly, but, on the other 

 hand, it is much more numerous— especially is such the case — in its 

 more natural habitats. The Sparrow is one of its greatest enemies, 

 and is undoubtedly responsible for its decrease in many localities. 

 Some property here within the last two or three years has undergone 

 considerable repairs, which has presumably decreased the nesting 

 facilities of the House- Sparrow, and it is astonishing how the House- 

 Martin has multiplied in the meantime. It may be that this species 

 is returning to some extent to its more primitive breeding haunts, 

 where it feels more secure. — E. P. Butteefield (Wilsden, Bradford). 



Distribution of the Linnet. — I do not think it is possible that 

 White made the mistake of confounding the Twite with the Linnet 

 when he wrote that there were " in winter vast flocks of Common 

 Linnets," as suggested (ante, p. 69). Nor is it wonderful that the 

 Twite is not mentioned in White's letters, for it is extremely probable 

 it never occurred at Selborne ; even on the coast of Hampshire it is a 

 rare bird ('Birds of Hampshire,' p. 67), and I believe it is so every- 

 where inland in England, except in its northern breeding grounds. 

 To the coast of England, as a winter visitor, it seems to be rare 

 except in the eastern counties, where I have seen numbers in autumn 

 and early winter. I have no authentic record of the occurrence of 

 the Twite in Oxfordshire. With regard to the Linnet in winter, 

 although it is true that it leaves Oxfordshire to some extent in winter, 

 and that the great flocks we see in autumn usually leave us before 

 winter, yet this is not always so. On Dec. 1st, 1903, I saw on a 

 wheat-stubble the largest flock of Linnets I ever met with — it must 

 have comprised several thousands. And on Jan. 22nd, 1904, I saw a 



