98 
FRINGILLID/E. 
for more than a few days^ so incessant were their endeavours to 
escape. They refused every kind of food which was offered. 
I have ascertained that this species has also become more 
abundant in Orkney during the last ten or twelve years, but it 
has not yet been observed there in summer. 
As might be supposed, the Brambling roosts in trees, or at 
some distance from the gi’onnd, where possible ; but it is often 
compelled to put up with very poor accommodation. I re- 
member one night about the end of October being suddenly 
overtaken in the hills by a tremendous gale from the north- 
east, accompanied by complete darkness and sleety rain. 
Stopping to trim my lantern under the shelter of a solitary 
plantie cruive * upon the hill-side, I heard a peculiar twitter- 
ing sound within, and, on looking over the wall, saw to my 
astonishment that the gTound was thickly covered — in some 
parts literally paved — with Bramblings and Chaffinches. The 
siglit was a singular one indeed ; the poor benighted travellers 
had chosen the only shelter that was to be had, and seemed to 
be worn out with fatigue, not one of them attempting flight, 
or even moving more than its head, which always followed 
every movement of the lantern. I then left them, envying 
them their comfortable quarters, and early next morning had 
the pleasure of seeing a large flock, probably the same one, in 
the garden at Buness, where, I may add, many of the Chaf- 
flnches remained for about six weeks, the Mountain Finches 
disappearing after the fifth day. I observed unusual numbers 
of females and first year’s birds of both species. 
THE HOUSE-S BABKO W. 
Passer domesticus. 
It is almost needless to remark that the House-Sparrow is 
plentiful in Shetland, breeding abundantly, and as ready there 
* Plantie cruive . — A circular patch of ground in the open, about three or 
four yards in diameter, surrounded by a loose ^vall, and used by the inhabitants 
for growing the young cabbage plants. 
