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that it was “occasionally found in situations adapted to its habits, but decidedly less numerous 
in Sussex than in many other counties nearer the metropolis. Was formerly not unusual in 
the neighbourhood of Pevensey, but is now rare, most of the reed-beds having been removed to 
admit of the water running freely through the dykes. A male and female in my collection were 
obtained near the ruins of Amberley Castle. A pair were also shot at Fishbourne, near 
Chichester, by a retired military serjeant of the name of Carter, a very successful gunner, who 
has had the good fortune to meet with some of our rarest birds in that neighbourhood.” 
In most of the southern counties of England the present species is sparingly found, and 
Mr. J. Brooking Rowe says that in Devon it is “scarce, but specimens have been obtained both 
in the south and middle of the county.” Mr. J. Gatcombe writes to us:—‘‘I have never seen a 
wild or even a Devonshire-killed specimen, although it is said to have been met with in a few 
instances. During the last few years I have bought several pairs in the London market killed 
in Britain.” Mr. Rodd has a specimen from St. Levan, in Cornwall, “the only recorded example 
in this district ;” he says it is very rare in that county. 
In Norfolk the present bird is still found in considerable numbers, as will be seen by the 
accounts given by Messrs. Stevenson and Gurney below. In Scotland the Bearded Reedling 
seems to be unknown; and only one instance, scarcely well authenticated, is known of its occur- 
rence in Ireland. 
In Sweden it is not found; but, according to Kjerbolling, it is met with in Denmark, 
where, however, it is rare, and has been found in Southern Jutland. In Holland Professor 
Schlegel says it is found chiefly to the eastward of Rotterdam, and has not been observed 
breeding further north than Stompwijk; it is a migrant, leaving in October and returning in 
April. Mr. Labouchere also writes to us as as follows :— 
“These birds are comparatively common in Holland, especially in the marshes round 
Amsterdam, where they are yearly caught in great numbers by the bird-catchers, the time to 
catch them being the early part of October, when the old birds go on foraging expeditions 
accompanied by the young ones to the number of six or seven in a flock. They are caught by 
means of nets, which are laid down among the reeds, while decoy-birds are placed at a short 
distance.” 
In Belgium, De Selys-Longchamps records it as accidental, during the autumn migration, 
near Liége, occurring more regularly at Brabant and Antwerp; and in Luxembourg De la 
Fontaine observes :—“ It visits us in winter, generally in November found in the Moselle, par- 
ticularly between Sierck and Remich, and in the neighbourhood of Thionville, also on the canton 
of Redange, on the wooded borders of the Attert.” 
In France, Degland and Gerbe say it is found in some parts during migration; Jaubert and 
Barthélemy Lapommeraye state that it is very rare in Provence, seen at long intervals, generally 
on the Camargue or borders of the Rhone. In Savoy, Bailly says it is an accidental visitor. 
Little has been recorded concerning the Bearded Reedling in Italy. Mr. Giglioli, in his 
paper on birds observed near Pisa by him, says that he found it pretty numerous in the 
Maremma. 
According to Malherbe, it is “‘ found in Sicily throughout the year, particularly in the marshes 
of Catania, the Lake of Lentini, on the banks of the Anapus, and the River of Cyane.” 
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