TT. very well-known and favourite bird 
remains with us throughout the year. Its 
numbers are reinforced in winter, however, by the arrival 
of large flocks of immigrants, which make their way to the 
stubble-fields in search of wild seeds and scattered grain. 
Unfortunately, however, they are also very fond of attacking 
sprouting corn, and devouring the white stalk between the 
seed and the blade ; and in this way they often do a great 
deal of damage in a very short time. On the other hand, 
they seem to devour a large number of mischievous insects. 
Their dietary for the year is given by M. Prevost Paradol 
as follows: January and February, seeds and corm; March, 
various insects, worms, seeds, and corm; April and May, 
insects, beetles, com; June, flies and various insects; 
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