186 BRAMBLING. 
flocks have been observed in the beech-woods of Armagh and the 
north-eastern districts, and also in co. Cork. 
To the Feroes the Brambling is only an exceptional visitor. On 
the mainland it breeds throughout the sub-Arctic pine and birch 
forests, from Norway to Kamchatka ; while on migration it occurs in 
Japan, China, Northern India, Asia Minor and the whole of Europe ; 
but it is only in very severe winters that it pushes its wanderings to 
the African side of the Mediterranean. Immense flocks sometimes 
visit Belgium, Holland, Germany and Heligoland ; but statements 
that this species has nested in the Pyrenees, the Alps, or the 
Ardennes, are as yet unconfirmed. 
As arule, the Brambling breeds at higher altitudes than those 
frequented by the Chaffinch ; and its nest, usually placed where a 
branch meets the stem of a birch- or fir-tree, but sometimes in small 
juniper bushes, is bulkier, less compact, and largely composed of 
birch-bark. Several pairs generally breed in company. The eggs, 
6-7 in number, laid late in May or early in June, are, as a rule, rather 
greener than those of the Chaffinch and have more defined markings, 
but many of each species are quite indistinguishable : measurements 
‘8 by ‘6in. The Brambling has bred several times in captivity. Its 
food consists of insects, small seeds—especially those of the knot- 
grass, beechmast, and the kernels of nuts. The call-note is a harsh 
chib; the male during the breeding-season utters a long, wearisome 
and oft-repeated cvee, much louder than that of the Greenfinch. 
The adult male in breeding-plumage has the head, cheeks, nape 
and back glossy blue-black with white bases to the feathers, which 
sometimes show in the form of an irregular collar; upper wing- 
coverts orange-buff, tipped with white; greater coverts black, 
margined with white, which forms a conspicuous bar; quills mostly 
brownish-black, with whitish exterior margins ; rump white, mottled 
with black ; tail-feathers black, with a little white at the base of the 
outer pair; throat and breast reddish-fawn-colour ; belly dull white ; 
flanks spotted with black; under wing-coverts bright yellow ; bill 
bluish-black ; legs brown. Length 6:1 in. ; wing 3°6 in. In autumn and 
winter the black feathers of the head and back have ample margins 
of reddish-brown (as represented in the woodcut), which are shed in 
spring ; a warm orange-brown pervades the wing- and tail-coverts, 
breast and flanks ; and the bill is yellow, with a black tip. The 
female is dull brown on the upper parts and has none of the rich 
black and chestnut markings of the male. Young birds at first 
resemble the female, but the males soon show signs of black on the 
head and back, and the under parts are brighter fawn-colour. 
