FINCH. 61 



and sometimes in vast flocks, for I have had eighteen brought to me 

 at once, which were killed with a single shot; are also seen at certain 

 times in vast clouds in France, insomuch that the ground has been 

 quite covered with their dung, and more than 600 dozen were killed 

 each night;* said to be particularly fond of beech mast, but will 

 also eat seeds of many other kinds : the flesh is eaten by some, but 

 is apt to prove bitter. Are said to build about Luxemburg, making 

 the nest on tall fir trees, of long moss, lined with wool and feathers ; 

 the eggs four or five, yellowish, and spotted ; the young fledged the 

 end of May. J 1 This species is probably more or less common 

 throughout Europe ; found in plenty in the pine forests of Russia 

 and Siberia, but those of the latter are darker in colour, and less in 

 size : J how far southward this species extends is not certain, but Mr. 

 White talks of their being now and then seen at Gibraltar, in their 

 periodical flights; probably to and from Barbary. 



A. — Size of the Brain bling. Upper parts of the plumage as in 

 that bird; over each eye a black streak, tending to the hindhead; 

 across the back part of the head another, meeting the first ; on the 

 wing coverts a bar of reddish white, and below it a ferruginous one ; 

 throat and breast tawny ; belly and rump white. 



This was met with off" the Coast of Japan, and in the collection 

 of Sir Joseph Banks. 



B.— Montifringilla leucocephala, Bris. iii. 159. A. Id. Svo.i. 350. Gen. Syn. iii. 262. 



This is paler in colour than the Common Brambling, and the 

 head wholly white. 



* Hist. des. Qis. — Willughby observes, that they are common in the poulterer's shops in 

 winter. — Mr. Lamb informed me, that twenty-four birds were killed in Berkshire at one 

 discharge of a fowling-pieee. f Hist, des Ois. + Mr. Pennant. 



