2o 



9 



beautiful." Mr. John Henry Gurney, jun., has lent us a specimen with a black throat; and 

 Mr. Bond has one which belonged to Mr. Doubleday. Latham, in his ' Synopsis,' likewise says, 

 " In some the. throat is black." 



Mr. Stevenson also gives some interesting particulars respecting the flocks of Bramblings in 

 Norfolk, as follows : — " The late long and severe winter (1864-65) has been also remarkable for 

 the abundance of this sprightly and attractive species, whose southward migration in extraordinary 

 quantities was witnessed under the following singular circumstances : — Mr. Samuel Blyth, whose 

 local observations as a thoroughly practical naturalist I have often referred to, assures me that, 

 just prior to the very sharp weather that set in about the middle of January, he noticed at 

 Framlingham, near Norwich, for several successive days large flights of birds passing low over the 

 fields in a southerly direction. They appeared always at the same time, from about half-past 

 three until nearly dusk, flying for the most part level with the fences, occasionally having to rise 

 at them when higher than usual. After noticing them for several days, he at last shot into one 

 large flock at about sixty yards, and dropped one bird, which proved to be a Brambling ; and the 

 same result followed on two subsequent occasions. In order to ascertain if they were really 

 making a continuous flight, or merely returning to some favourite roosting-place after a foraging 

 expedition during the day, he watched for them, on one occasion, from the early morning ; but 

 not one was seen to come from the contrary direction. At the usual time, however, in the 

 in the afternoon large flights again appeared in their accustomed line, keeping straight on with 

 a sort of settled purpose, so noticeable in other species on their migratory course." The following 

 equally curious statement, respecting the migration of this species, appeared in a letter to ' The 

 Times' (March 23rd, 1865) from Mr. A. E. Atkins, of Farnham Court, Slough: — "Some of your 

 readers may be interested by the mention of a fact which, in this neighbourhood at least, is 

 without parallel in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. A large flock of Bramble-Finches have 

 taken up their residence in Stoke Park. Their numbers may be estimated when I state that the 

 flight, which was seen starting from their roosting-place one morning, continued streaming on 

 without intermission for thirty-five minutes. The person who noted this killed forty-five at one 

 shot. I may mention that before they came to their new quarters thousands of Starlings 

 congregated there nightly, but since this invasion of northerners the ancient inhabitants have 

 been dispossessed : but they have not forgotten their former homes ; and now that returning 

 spring has warned our new friends to seek more quiet quarters before pairing and building-time 

 comes upon them, the Starlings are again making their appearance in great numbers." 



The eggs of the Brambling much resemble those of the Common Chaffinch, but have a greener 

 tinge. We have before us a series of these eggs from Dresser's collection, obtained by himself 

 in Finland, and by Wheelwright in Sweden, amongst which are two peculiar varieties taken at 

 Uleaborg, Finland, quite pale blue, with two or three pale purplish underlying shell-markings, 

 and a few straggling blackish dots chiefly at the larger end. In size these eggs vary from f-jj by 

 ■ff inch to f^j by ff inch. Dr. E. Bey writes to us that he has measured fifty-six eggs of this bird 

 in his collection, from Lapland and Sweden, and finds the average size to be 19 - 3 by 14'6, the 

 largest measuring 25 - 5 by 14 - 5, and the smallest 16'75 by 13*75 millimetres respectively. He 

 further states that a short time ago birds he possesses in confinement laid quite normal eggs. 



The Brambling has bred in England in captivity, the fact being noticed by Mr. Stevenson as 



