NOTES AND QUERIES. 25 



London.— Hudson, in 1898 ; 0. Pigott, in 1892 ; 0. 



Norfolk.— Stevenson, in 1866. By no means uncommon through- 

 out the year. 



Bucks and Berks. — Clark Kennedy, in 1868. Generally distributed 

 in the two counties. Greatly decreased during the last ten years. 

 More numerous in spring and autumn. 



West Cheshire, Denbigh, and Flint. — Mr. Dobie, in 1893. Resident 

 and generally distributed, but not common in West Cheshire. In 

 Wirral a scarce resident ; a good many in autumn. Not common at 

 Burton (West Cheshire). Common in Wales. 



Stafford. — Mr. McAldowie, in 1893. Partly migratory ; very rare 

 in summer, but more numerous in winter. Breeds in the north of the 

 county, but is very rare. Gradually becoming extinct in Stafford, 

 according to Mr. Yates. 



Norwood district, Surrey. — Mr. Aldridge writes : — " Becoming 

 scarcer every year. Remorselessly hunted down. Certainly rare." 



Yorkshire. — ' Aekworth Birds.' Mr. Arundel, in 1898. Previous 

 to 1860 was plentiful, since then diminished in numbers, and has 

 become scarce. Thinks it is still resident. The diminution towards 

 extinction has been going on over the whole of Britain, and quotes 

 J. E. Harting to the same effect, and Mr. Howard Saunders, who says 

 it has " undoubtedly decreased in numbers during the last half-century" 

 ('Manual,' p. 173). Mr. Howard Saunders, however, records (1898) 

 also that the Wild Birds' Protection Act has operated in its favour 

 during the past twelve years ; and adds, " perhaps (also) agricultural 

 depression." 



Lancashire. — Mitchell, in 1885, does not mention it. 



Rutland. — Mr. Montagu Browne, in 1889, has it resident, but 

 sparsely distributed. Even in Harley's time it was " increasingly 

 rare." 



Northumberland. — Hancock, in 1874, had only seen it on two or 

 three occasions. Casual visitant. 



Lakeland. — Rev. H. A. Macpherson, in 1892. Thirty years before 

 it was comparatively common, and nested freely from the Solway to 

 the shores of Morecambe Bay, and even in the heart of the Lake 

 District. Present stronghold is in the Eden Valley. Not met with on 

 the south-eastern border, but stated to be slightly increasing at Under- 

 barrow. " Uniformly a very scarce bird." 



Sherwood Forest. — Sterland, in 1869. " One of our commonest 

 song-birds " (p. 117). [No thought apparently of any decrease then — 

 J. H. B.] 



