392 Fauna of Tioizell. 



tree pipit, breeds annually upon the lawn, and though its song does 

 not possess great compass or variety, its mode of delivering it as it 

 descends, with motionless expanded wing and outspread tail, from 

 the elevated station it has previously attained by a flight as peculiar, 

 makes it a general favourite. Its arrival does not take place till the 

 last few days in April or the first of May. That lovely bird the 

 wax- wing (Bomby cilia garrula) has been twice or thrice seen with- 

 in the district. It is uncertain in its appearance, and sometimes 

 many years elapse without a visit. During the winters of 1835 and 

 1836 it was generally spread over the kingdom, and I saw many 

 specimens taken in the neighbourhood. I inay here mention, that 

 a living individual was given to Dr Johnston of Berwick, who kept 

 it caged for several months. It soon became tame and familiarized 

 to its situation, and recognized those who fed and attended it. It 

 was frequently allowed to come out of the cage and fly about the 

 room, and at last made its escape, from the door of the cage having 

 inadvertently been left open opposite to an open window. It was 

 fed at first upon haws and holly berries, and when these failed, 

 seemed to thrive upon dried fruits, such as raisins, currants, figs, &c. 

 The bunting (Emb. miliaria) visits the district in small flocks 

 during the winter, but few breed with us, as it affects a more open 

 and perhaps a less cultivated country, and I have observed it to be 

 more abundant where meadows and pasture prevail. Flocks of 

 snow-flakes (Plect. nivalis) occasionally frequent the stubbles dur- 

 ing the winter months ; none, however, have appeared this last win- 

 ter although it has been long and severe, nor have I noticed them 

 in the adjoining districts. The lesser redpole (Linaria minor) 

 breeds in all the deans and copses wherever the birch abounds. 

 Small flocks are now and then seen during the winter, but the great 

 body seems to migrate further south. In April they return in flocks, 

 and for some time frequent the Wych elms, whose seed, which at that 

 time is beginning to ripen, they greedily devour. They do not nidi- 

 ficate before May, or till they can procure in suflicient plenty the 

 downy pappus of the willow, with which soft substance they chief- 

 ly line their nests. I have observed the siskin, (Car. spinus) to 

 be much more plentiful in mild than in severe winters ; it is there- 

 fore probable that when the latter prevail they migrate to a lower 

 or warmer latitude. They are generally seen upon the birch and 

 alder trees, extracting the seed from the catkins, which they efi"ect in 

 a quick and adroit manner. When feeding, this bird assumes, like the 

 lesser redpole, a variety of interesting attitudes, in order to reach the 

 catkins. Its feet possess the true perching or insessorial form, and 



