122 The Naturalist. 



Yellow Bunting {Emheriza citrinella) — 



Breeds abundantly in this locality. I have found its nest 

 containing eggs as early as the 19th of April, and have seen 

 unfledged young ones as late as the 13th September. 



FEINGILLID^. 



Chaffinch {Fringilla coelehs) — 



The beautiful nest of this pretty bird may be found in almost 

 every lane and orchard around Wakefield. It is quite a 

 favoured visitor at the cottage door in winter time. 



Mountain Finch {FringiUa montifringilla) — 



This migrant never fails to honour us with its presence in winter 

 time; in the years 1867 and 1871 a larger number than usual 

 visited this neighbourhood, and they might be seen feeding in 

 seed-fields and farm-yards in company with chaffinches, yellow 

 buntings and linnets. I have found it to be a very difficult 

 matter to keep this bird in a healthy state when in confinement, 

 and it is not at all sociable with other feathered friends. My 

 earliest note of its arrival is the 28th September, and the latest 

 departure the 21st of May. I have observed that it wears a 

 much prettier dress in the month of May than it does in the 

 winter. 



Tree Sparrow {Passer montanus) — 



Is found in great numbers in the railway cutting and stone 

 quarries of Horbury, where it breeds quite freely. The eggs 

 vary very much in colour and shape. 



House Sparrow {Passer domesticus) — 



Breeds very abundantly in Wakefield, particularly near the large 

 corn warehouses at the side of the Calder. I am told by corn 

 porters that the quantity of larva? of the corn weevil which they 

 eat is most astonishing. The popular prejudice against this bird 

 is intense, and, like many other prejudices, it has only a slender 

 foundation to rest upon. 



Greenfinch {Coccothrausies cTilorii) — 



Breeds abundantly in this locality, greatly to the annoyance of 

 market gardeners, who tell me it is one of the most destructive 

 birds with which they have to contend, as it plays great havoc 

 among the newly-sown beds in springtime. From my own 



