84 FKINGILLID.E. 



whether there are any large flocks of these finches with them 

 in the winter, and of which sex they mostly consist ? For, 

 from such intelligence, one might be able to judge whether 

 our female flocks migrate from the other end of the island, or 

 whether they come over to us from the Continent. 1 ' 



The observations of several later authors have given a 

 reply in part to this question. Selby says, " In Northumber- 

 land and Scotland, this separation takes place about the month 

 of November, and from that period till the return of spring, 

 few females are to be seen, and those few always in distinct 

 societies. The males remain, and are met with during the 

 winter in immense flocks, feeding with other granivorous 

 birds in the stubble-land, Sec." 



Similar testimony is given by the Rev. G. Gordon, in his 

 Fauna of Moray, which has appeared in the Zoologist ; where 

 that gentleman observes, — " The Chaffinch or Tree-lintie is 

 one of the most abundant of the feathered tribes in Scotland. 

 At the approach of winter, there is a large accession of the 

 species in this part of the country ; and the vast flocks which, 

 during that season, are seen around the homestead of almost 

 every farm, show in most cases a preponderance of males.'" 



This appears conclusive as to the fact that our island is 

 visited annually by both male and female Chaffinches, in 

 large and distinct flocks, the former chiefly remaining in the 

 northern, the latter penetrating to the southern part of the 

 country ; but, as in many parts Chaffinches are seen to re- 

 main together throughout the winter, it appears possible that 

 our native and less numerous birds, having no occasion, on 

 account of climate, to migrate at all, remain together. Mon- 

 tagu says, speaking of Devonshire, " They remain with us 

 during the whole year, but the sexes do not separate as they 

 are known to do in Holland and other countries.'" Mr. 

 Knapp says the same of Gloucestershire ; and, more recently, 

 Mr. Hepburn, in a paper in the Zoologist, makes the same 



