A HISTORY OF DEVONSHIRE 



had been seen in the previous March on 

 alder trees along the banks of the Avon near 

 that town (E. A. S. Elliot). 



79. Twite. Linota fiavirostris (Linn.) 



A casual autumn and winter visitor to 

 north Devon, but unknown in the south of 

 the county. The Rev. M. A. Mathew used 

 to meet with small flocks on Northam 

 Burrows, and on the side of the north walk 

 in the town of Barnstaple, and obtained 

 specimens near that town. 



80. Bullfinch. Pyrrhula europeea, Vieillot. 

 Locally, Hoop, Bud Finch, Bud-picker, Coal- 

 hood. 



Resident and tolerably numerous in some 

 localities. In early spring small parties visit 

 gardens just as the fruit trees and bushes are 

 budding and work havoc on them, especially 

 on pears and gooseberries. Rewards were 

 formerly paid for their destruction in many 

 parishes in Devon. At Ashburton between 

 1761 and 1820 inclusive, 1,661 'hoops' 

 were destroyed at an expenditure of ^^3 iQs. 

 4^rf. At Dulverton as much as 3^. per 

 head appears to have been paid for them (Dr. 

 Brushfield in Trans. Devon Assoc. 1897). In 

 summer and autumn it keeps to the woodlands 

 and copses. Black and white specimens have 

 been obtained. In the latter the breast re- 

 tains some of its roseate hue. 



[The pine grosbeak {Pyrrhula enucleator) has 

 been recorded as a Devonshire bird, but the 

 evidence of its occurrence is not satisfactory. 

 In some instances the hawfinch and crossbill 

 have been mistaken for it.] 



81. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. 

 Locally, Shell-apple. 



A casual visitor of very irregular occur- 

 rence, but appearing at all times of the year. 

 Flocks were seen in July 1810,1 831, 

 October 1835 ; June 1837 ; in the winter of 

 1838-9 ; June 1848 ; Nov. 1861 ; March 

 1869; July to October 1868; January to 

 March 1869; January 1888; September to 

 November 1889; March 1895; and in the 

 winter of 1898-9. 



In July 1868 there was a simultaneous 

 immigration of crossbills into Ireland, Corn- 

 wall, Devon, Somerset and Gloucestershire. 

 In November 1869 crossbills and snow 

 buntings mixed together were seen flying 

 across Lundy Island and some of both were 

 shot. 



The crossbill has bred several times in 

 Devon. Mr. W. R. Hall Jordan saw a nest 

 in a spruce fir tree at Ogwell House on 10 

 April 1839. The male was shot, but the 



female bird still continued to attend the nest. 

 A pair bred in Mr, C. Pearson's garden at 

 Hatherleigh in north Devon in June 1894. 

 The nest was placed in a Scotch fir. A 

 young bird in striped plumage was shot at 

 Budleigh Salterton in September 1889, 



In January 1888 a flock of the large 

 northern race of this bird, known as the 

 parrot crossbill {Loxia pityopsittacus), visited the 

 fir plantations at Marley near Exmouth, and 

 remained for some weeks. Many were shot 

 and examined by the writer, who ascertained 

 that they were examples of the stout-billed 

 race of crossbill. 



[A male example of the American white- 

 winged crossbill {Loxia leucoptera) in the red 

 plumage of the second year was found dead on 

 the beach at Exmouth, apparently just washed 

 ashore, by Mr. E. B. Fitton, 17 September 

 1845. A strong south-west wind was blow- 

 ing and had continued for several days. It had 

 probably been conveyed across the Atlantic 

 in the rigging of some passing vessel, and 

 had fallen into the sea from exhaustion.] 



82. Corn-Bunting. Emberiza miliaria , Linn. 

 Locally, Horse Lark, Bunting Lark. 



Resident, but local, frequenting corn-lands. 

 It is sometimes abundant on the coast near 

 Plymouth, Kingsbridge, Berry Head, etc., 

 during migration in August and September. 

 It is tolerably common in the South Hams, 

 breeding near Kingsbridge and along the 

 coasts. It is not numerous near Exeter, 

 according to the experience of the writer, 

 but Mr. Pidsley appears to have found it 

 abundant at Broad Clyst. In north Devon it 

 is very local ; a few frequent the high ground 

 above Ilfracombe, and it occurs on Braunton 

 Burrows and at Instow. A bulF-coloured 

 variety was obtained at Alphington near 

 Exeter in February 1875. 



83. Yellow Bunting. Emberiza citrinella^ 



Linn. 

 Locally, Gladdy (A.-S. glaiide=hr\gh.^. Yellow 

 Yowley (A.-S. ^^fl/a= yellow) 

 Resident, generally distributed and abundant. 

 Lutino varieties occur. 



84. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. 

 Locally, French Yellow Hammer. 



Resident, rather local, but at times com- 

 mon in many places both in the north and 

 south of the county. 



The cirl bunting was first observed as a 

 British bird by Colonel Montagu at Kings- 

 bridge, south Devon, in 1 800. In the following 

 year he found the nest in Devonshire. It is 

 now well known as a breeding bird in the 



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