20 Brogden : Birds of Spalding and S. Lines. Fenla?id. 



About 1888 I found a nest in a Spalding garden with five 

 eggs, the ground colour like a Wheatear's, but somewhat 

 greener. Some had no marks, but one or two a large 

 blotch of almost blood red. A pair bred in the same place 

 next year, and the eggs were similarly coloured and 

 marked. 



Hirundo rustica L. Swallow. Found generally, but not so 

 numerous as a few years ago, when thousands perished by 

 the severe weather in May. On the 6th November 1896, 

 when Snipe shooting in Cowbit Wash, I had a Swalluw 

 flying round me hawking for flies. 



Chelidon urbica (L. ). House Martin. In less numbers than 

 the former. 



Cotile riparia (L.). Sand Martin. The most common of the 

 class, and in suitable localities breeds in large numbers. 



Ligurinus chloris (L.). Greenfinch. Plentiful and breeds 

 everywhere. 



Coccothraustes vulgaris Pallas. Hawfinch. Several speci- 

 mens were seen and obtained in Spalding last winter 

 (1895). My example was picked up dead in a garden in 

 High Street in November 1895, and another brought to me 

 shot in Ayscoughfee Hall gardens in February 1896, and in 

 March I also picked up another dead in the same place. 



Carduelis elegans Stephens. Goldfinch. To be found 

 generally and in increasing numbers. I know -of several 

 gardens in Spalding in which it breeds. 



Carduelis spinus (L.). Siskin. In the winter of 1890 I saw 

 seven feeding on a thistle on the Cowbit road in Spalding, 

 within half a mile of the Market Place. They were so 

 tame as to permit me to approach within three yards before 

 flying away. 



Passer domesticus (L.). House Sparrow. Has become a pest, 

 especially to the farmers, who have formed Sparrow Clubs, 

 offering rewards for the eggs and birds. Only last year 

 I saw a large field of wheat in this district quite half of 

 which was absolutely destroyed. White and also .black 

 specimens are of frequent occurrence. 



Passer montanus (L.). Tree Sparrow. Sparingly distributed 

 and breeding in suitable localities ; is fairly numerous about 

 Spalding. 



Fringilla coelebs L. Chaffinch. Breeds and is found every- 

 where, but is particularly numerous in autumn and winter. 



Naturalist, 



