MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN N.E. LINCOLNSHIRE. 205 



began to get scarce during the first week of October, but on the 

 10th I noticed a large flock passing S. over Grainsby at such an 

 immense height that they were scarcely visible, looking like 

 grains of sand. Last seen Oct. 15th. 



Ligurinus chloris (Linn.). Greenfinch. — Very abundant in 

 reeds and hedges near the coast on Oct. 17th. The flocks con- 

 sisted of both males and females, and, I think, some young 

 birds ; about a third were old cocks. Not nearly so numerous 

 on 18th. 



Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pall. Hawfinch. — Less numerous 

 than usual. I saw a few during the first week of November. 



Passer domesticus (Linn.). House-Sparrow. — The first large 

 flock appeared in the stubbles near the coast on Oct. 8th. The 

 Sparrow took part in the great immigratory movement of mid- 

 October, large flocks, in company with Tree-Sparrows, Redwings, 

 and Rooks, frequenting the fields adjoining the sea-shore on the 

 13th, and still larger numbers on the 29th. 



P. montanus (Linn.). Tree-Sparrow. — I noticed a few Tree- 

 Sparrows among a large flock of the common species on Oct. 8th 

 at North Cotes, and some small flocks on the 18th. The prin- 

 cipal immigration, however, took place in November, and the 

 species was very abundant in the vicinity of the coast on Nov. 

 12th and 20th, on the latter date in large flocks. In almost 

 every case these birds were associating with the House- Sparrow. 



Fringilla coelehs, Linn. Chaffinch. — A good many Chaf- 

 finches — all old cocks — in the hedges near the coast on Oct. 13th. 

 Again, on 20th, flocks were passing over Grainsby in the morn- 

 ing, and I saw many near the coast, apparently all cocks. On 

 25th a very large flock was feeding on the stubbles at Beesby on 

 the wolds, and, as far as I could see, they also consisted entirely 

 of cocks. 



F. montif ring ilia, Linn. Brambling. — Though a great beech- 

 mast year, Bramblings were almost entirely absent. A single 

 bird near the sea-bank at North Cotes on. Oct. 20th was the only 

 one I noted. 



Linota cannahina (Linn.). Linnet. — Very large flocks of 

 Linnets frequented the fields near the coast and the foreshore 

 from the middle of September to the middle of October, when 

 they gradually disappeared. 



