THE BRAMBLING. 

 Fringilla monti/ringilla, Linnaeus. 

 Plate i6. 



The Brambling is a more or less regular winter visitor to our shores, usually 

 arriving on our north-east and east coasts in October, and leaving again in spring. 



Abroad the summer haunts of this species are far to the north, and its nest may 

 be looked for among the forests and birch-clad hillsides in Scandinavia and northern 

 Russia. This is placed on a fir or birch, usually in a fork, and resembles in appear- 

 ance that of the Chaffinch, although somewhat larger. 



It is composed of birch bark, green moss, and lichens, with a lining of wool, hair, 

 and feathers. The eggs, usually six in number, are the same in colour and mark- 

 ings as the Chaffinch's. 



According to Seebohm, the song of the Brambling is " a short low warble," and 

 it has also a prolonged call-note, which has been compared to that of the Greenfinch. 



The number of Bramblings which visit us varies from year to year ; sometimes 

 large flocks make their appearance, frequenting the beech-woods along with Chaf- 

 finches, and feeding on the fallen beechmast. 



They also eat insects and seeds. 



As may be seen from the plate, the winter and summer plumage of the male 

 Brambling differ a good deal, the rich blue-black head and mantle of the breeding 

 season being replaced by duller and more patchy feathers in autumn. 



The female is altogether duller and greyer than the male, the back and head 

 being brownish instead of black. 



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