45 



Bullfinch (Pyrrhula europcea, Vieillot). 



276-283. 5 Females, 3 Males ; Capenhurst, Cheshire ; 

 11th January, 1905. — All the 8 examples contained fragments 

 (in stomach) and almost perfect fruits (in gullet) of the seed of 

 the sycamore {Acer pseudo-platanus) ; the seed had, in nearly 

 all cases, been divested of its epidermal layer. There were 

 also many small fragments of cinders and bricks. (These 

 birds were said to have been " shot while in the act of destroying 

 fruit buds/') 



284. Male ; Ince, Chester ; 22nd January, 1894. — Filled 

 with the kernels of the hawthorn ; small pebbles and fragments 

 of brick. 



285, 286. 1 Male, 1 Female ; Aldford, Chester ; 22nd February , 

 1894. — Filled with the kernels of the hawthorn mixed with 

 many small pebbles. 



287. Male ; Prestatyn, North Wales ; April, 1908. — Filled 

 with buds (? plum) divested of the scales mixed with several 

 small round pebbles. This bird was " shot while in the act of 

 destroying fruit buds." 



288. Fledged Young; near Gloucester; August, 1901. — 

 Filled with about equal proportions of the seeds of the elder 

 (Sambucus nigra) and the blackberry (Rubus sp.). 



289,290. 2 Females ; Crickleigh, Gloucester ; August, 1904. — 

 Filled with the fresh seeds of Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) and the 

 small composite (Hieracium pilosella). 



291-295. 3 Males, 2 Females; Mollington, Chester ; 22nd 

 November, 1888.— All 5 examples contained seeds of dock 

 (Rumex), blackberry (Rubus), and a few small pebbles. 



296-298. 3 Males ; near Chester ; 31st November, 1903. — 

 All 3 examples contained seeds of the dock and a few seeds of 

 charlock. 



299^-c. 2 Males, 1 Female ; Oakmere, Cheshire ; 18th De- 

 cember, 1888. — All three contained seeds of the dock, blackberry 

 and nettle (Urtica dioica) ; small pebbles. 



Summary. — 11 contained seeds of sycamore ; 3, hawthorn 

 kernels ; 1, seeds of elder ; 9, seeds of blackberry ; 2, seeds of 

 selfheal ; 11, seeds of dock ; 3, seeds of charlock ; 3, seeds of 

 nettle ; 2, hawkweed ; 1, fruit buds. 



Field Notes. — Destruction of Fruit Buds. — The serious nature 



