308 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



disused lime-kilns in Whitley Dene, in which they appeared to 

 be nesting. 



Chaffinch {Fringilla coelebs). — A resident, but not numerous. 

 The local names are " Sheely " and "White Linnet." 



Brambling {F. inontifringilla). — An uncommon winter mi- 

 grant ; I have observed it during winter, but never in large 

 numbers. I have not observed them later than February. The 

 first records are three adult males in winter plumage shot at 

 Cullercoats, Feb. 13th, 1860. 



Linnet {Linota cannabina). — A fairly common resident. 



Lesser Redpoll (L. rufescens). — I only know of the occur- 

 rence of two individuals of this species, one of which I saw at 

 Briar Dene on April 15th, 1904. It had evidently come to the 

 coast preparatory to leaving for the Continent. The other I 

 observed on Jan. 3rd, 1906, at the same place. 



Bullfinch (Pyrrhula europcea). — Of irregular occurrence in 

 Holywell Dene and the surrounding district in winter. 



Crossbill {Loxia curvirostra) . — A specimen of this rare 

 winter visitant was caught in Tynemouth Station in the winter 

 of 1906. Two others, male and female, were shot in Holywell 

 in 1909, the year of the large influx. 



CoRN-BuNTiNG {Eiiiheriza miliaria). — A partial migrant ; in 

 spring and summer it is common, and breeds in the fields, but 

 most depart in winter, going further south. During early 

 spring the monotonous call of the male is to be heard from 

 almost every hedgerow bordering the meadows. It is also very 

 fond of singing from a tussock of grass, and I have counted as 

 many as twenty males singing by the high road behind Culler- 

 coats, within a space of half a mile. 



Yellow Bunting {E. citrinella). — The Yellow Bunting is a very 

 common resident. The local name is " Yaller-Yowley " (Yellow 

 Howler). A hybrid between this species and the Reed Bunting 

 was caught at Whitley on Jan. 30th, 1886, and lived in a cage 

 at the Museum till June, 1887. J. Hancock thought this speci- 

 men a natural cross. It is now set up in the Hancock Museum. 

 The coloration of this bird is as follows : — Crown and nape 

 greyish olive with streaks of black, cheeks and throat sulphur 

 yellow, of a more orange tint on lower part of neck ; ear-coverts 

 finely streaked by black up to eye ; back and scapularies reddish 



