2492 Birds. 



wild plants (especially the charlock), to which they are very partial. 

 When the corn is harvested, they repair to stubbles until the ground 

 is winter-ploughed, when they are driven to seek food from the seeds 

 of trees : those of the ash seem their favourite, and I once fell in with 

 a flock so busily feeding that I killed seventeen at one shot. "April 

 9, 1844: I have long noticed that a particular field, always when on 

 the plough, is visited by a very large flock of the common linnet : 

 they repair to it in the autumn, and continue there until the following 

 spring. Until last year I could not account for their singular partiality 

 to that particular spot, when I imagined that I discovered it. These 

 birds, as I have stated, subsist chiefly on charlock seeds, and as that 

 field towards May is completely yellowed over with these flowers, I 

 think they must repair thither in search of food. If this is their ob- 

 ject, such a body of birds, continuing there for so long a time, must 

 prove of infinite use in freeing the ground from these noxious weeds. 

 From minute observation T cannot discover that they touch the larger 

 grain, nor have the crops of those which have been shot contained 

 any corn whatever ; so that this harmless bird ought to be accounted 

 one of the most serviceable of its species to British agriculturists." 

 Since writing the above I have seen particular fields affected with 

 charlock, visited by hundreds (thousands 1 might almost say) of these 

 diminutive creatures, for months together. 



Lesser Redpole {Linota linaria) , Mr. Yarrell considers Halifax, 

 in Yorkshire, " the southern limit of its breeding in this island." I 

 have twice known it to breed here. The nest was fixed on the top of 

 a stunted, mossy hedge, in one case, and contained eggs on June 14; 

 and the birds, whilst building, would allow a person to approach them 

 within three or four yards, without displaying the least fear: indeed 

 fear does not seem to be part of their nature, if one may judge by cir- 

 cumstances. I shall not easily forget once falling in with an immense 

 flock, which occupied some alders by the river Derwent, during a se- 

 vere winter : they were in thousands, making the catkins seem quite 

 alive as they expertly crept under and over them incessantly. Having 

 a gun I pitched a shot into the whole party, and expected that every 

 bird would have taken wing at the report, but they were " not to be 

 frightened from their propriety .' , Six of them fell dead, but the rest 

 fed quietly on, as though nothing was amiss; and their obstinacy was 

 such that the party seemed as if they would stay to be annihilated ra- 

 ther than quit their feeding-stations. Flocks visited us on March 8 

 and November 20, 1844. They come at uncertain intervals in hard 

 winters. 



