21 



wound birds confined with them. When irritated, they raise the feathers on the neck and head. 

 I have known them vanquish and nearly kill a stronger bird, such as the Hawfinch (Coccothraustes 

 vulgaris). I have eggs from Norway and Lapland, in sittings of from five to six eggs. They re- 

 semble those of the Chaffinch, but are smaller, and vary like these, but are generally more greenish ; 

 and the spots are less, and more scattered. I consider the normal size to be 20 by 15 millims." 

 We translate the following notes on the breeding of the Brambling in Norway, kindly sent us by 

 Mr. R. Collett : — " In general it lays a larger number of eggs than any other of the Finches, seldom 

 less than six, and more generally seven. In the west, where Corvus cornice is a dreaded robber 

 of the eggs and young of the small birds, I have noticed that, when compelled to leave its nest to 

 seek food or for any other purpose, it generally hides the eggs (for security probably) amongst the 

 moss at the bottom of the nest. It generally builds in a birch or spruce, close to the main stem, 

 and about six or seven ells from the ground. The nest is constructed like that of the Chaffinch, 

 but generally more of moss, sometimes entirely of Usnea barbata. The eggs closely resemble 

 those of the Chaffinch ; but in the latter the general colour is grey-brown, not greyish blue, and 

 the spots are smaller. When near the breeding-place the male's harsh note is heard ; and if one 

 approaches nearer, the true song becomes audible ; this is sweet and melodious, consisting of several 

 flute-like notes, somewhat resembling those of the Redwing. The song is only heard during the 

 breeding-season. Several pairs always breed near together ; and in exceptional cases I have found 

 nests in small juniper bushes. In the conifer growth on the heights near Christiania they breed 

 in colonies. It has eggs late in May and early in June." Messrs. F. and P. Godman, who found 

 the Brambling breeding near Bodo, write as follows : — " The birds were extremely tame ; in one 

 instance we touched the hen with a gun before she left the nest. They often would not fly away 

 till one of us was halfway up the tree where the nest was situated ; but when once off, they left 

 the place altogether, uttering a note of distress. Every nest we found was in a birch tree, and 

 generally from fifteen to twenty feet from the ground. In no instance did the Chaffinch come 

 under our notice." 



Messrs. E. R. Alston and J. A. Harvie Brown, who have lately been travelling in Norway, 

 have sent us the following interesting account of the Brambling : — " In the beginning of May the 

 snow was lying two or three feet deep in the pine-woods at an elevation of 1760 feet above the 

 sea ; and here the Bramblings were still in large flocks, the males uttering their harsh call-note 

 from the very top of the fir trees. Birds shot had mostly not yet attained the summer plumage. 

 The contents of the stomach varied, including insects, small seeds, and young birds. 



" We took the first nest in the west on the 26th May, the eggs having been incubated for 

 about ten days. Afterwards in the mountains, where we found them in the ' birch-belt ' (Birke- 

 beltet), nests and fresh eggs were taken from the 12th June onwards. Here, at an elevation of 

 nearly 3000 feet, we observed no Chaffinches ; but when we took nests where the two species 

 bred together, the birds were watched to the nest in every instance. The nests in the birch trees 

 were generally about 10 feet from the ground, some few as high as 20 or 30 feet. Perhaps the 

 most beautifully situated nest which we met with was one placed in a small dead fir tree, nearly 

 quite concealed by the long drooping tufts of bearded lichens which grow in such abundance in 

 the Norwegian forests. All nests of F. montifringilla which we took were much larger than any 

 we have seen of F. ccelebs ; and the former had invariably among their materials quantities of 



