bad seasons for this fruit the Brambling seldom visits 

 us in any considerable numbers. On the other hand, 

 when this crop is plentiful the Bramblings flock in 

 hundreds to regale thereon, and generally remain until 

 they and other birds have cleared their harvest. In 

 severe weather they betake themselves to the stack- 

 yards, and occasionally, but in my experience rarely, to 

 the open fields with the other Finches. 



Compared with its near relation, the Chaffinch, this 

 species is somewhat shy and wary, but in general 

 habits it muck resembles that bird. The ordinary 

 call or alarm-note of the Brambling is a somewhat 

 sharply uttered, sibilant monosyllable, that bears a 

 certain affinity in sound to the "pink, pink " of the 

 Chaffinch, but is much harsher. The song has a re- 

 semblance to that of the Yellow Bunting, and con- 

 cludes with a long-drawn note very like the tiresome 

 drawl of the Greenfinch. The present species breeds 

 abundantly in Norway in the pine and birch forests. 

 A nest sent to me from that country many years ago 

 much resembled that of the Chaffinch, but was larger 

 and had no lichen in its structure, being built of green 

 moss, with small strips of birch-bark, and lined with, 

 as I believe, human hairs, a little wool, and a few 

 feathers, — amongst these I recognized one from the 

 breast of the Goshawk. 



The few eggs of this species that I have seen are 

 hardly to be distinguished from those of the Chaffinch. 

 I have kept many Bramblings in our aviaries ; but 

 although there are numerous records of their breeding 

 in captivity, I have only known of one completed nest at 



