T24 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



There was a very large arrival of this species all along the 

 coast of Sussex, in January 1867, when the weather was very 

 severe, and the fall of snow unusually deep,. In the same 

 month of 1871 there was an exceedingly violent storm, when 

 the largest arrival of these birds occurred that I ever re- 

 member, and great numbers sought their food round the 

 houses wherever it was charitably provided for birds in 

 general, and the stubbles along the coast were literally covered 

 with them, together with Linnets and other small birds. 



On the 4th of February 1841, I shot three males and one 

 female as they were feeding under an oat-stack, behind the 

 Pad Inn, near old Shoreham Bridge, and three others were 

 shot near the same place a few days before. 



I have hitherto referred only to the coast; inland, the 

 Brambling has often occurred, but not so plentifully. In 

 January 1838, a male was shot in the garden at IJarrow Hill, 

 Henfield, while feeding on crumbs at the window ; and in 

 February 1841 two more males were shot in the same parish. 

 In April 1843 a flock of about forty frequented the beech- 

 trees in the parish of Lower Beediug, in St. Leonards forest, 

 •for some weeks, and on the 14th two males and two females, 

 in full nuptial plumage, were sent to me. In October 1853, 

 about a dozen were caught in a sparrow-net while roosting 

 among the straw on the sheltered side of an oat-stack at 

 Cowfold, two of which I received; about the same time 

 several were obtained in the neighbourhood of Horsham. 



