BIRDS 52. Sand-Martin. Cattle riparia (Linn.). This bird makes its appearance here as a rule rather earlier than the rest of the Hirun- dinidee, and after producing one or two broods, departs in September. 53. Greenfinch. Ligurinus chloris (Linn.). Locally, Green Linnet. An abundant resident which in common with other members of the family seems to be increasing in numbers. 54- Hawfinch. Coccotkraustesvu!garis,Pa.zs. Locally, Grosbeak. Resident and well distributed, although from its retiring disposition it is probably often overlooked. I have seen several nests in this district ; the bird also breeds near Alder- maston, Bucklebury, Abingdon, Faringdon, Reading, and eggs have been taken in the College grounds at Radley. In Windsor Forest it breeds abundantly, and is also recorded from Wantage and Newbury. There can be no doubt that this bird has enormously increased in numbers of late years and has much extended its breeding range. In winter hawfinches often congre- gate in flocks, as I have seen thirty to forty individuals together. The seeds of the horn- beam form a favourite food. 55- Goldfinch. Carduelis e/egans, Stephens. In 1868 Clark Kennedy wrote of this species (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 36), ' has greatly decreased in numbers during the last ten years.' This decrease is still going on, and I fully believe that unless legislation steps in the goldfinch as a county resident will be a bird of the past. The lessening of its numbers is no doubt partially due to the better cultivation of the land and the conse- quent destruction of the thistle and other weeds on the seeds of which it loves to feed ; but its greatest enemies are the bird-catchers, who take dozens in spring and autumn. Some goldfinches are resident and remain throughout the winter, but there is a large migration at both seasons. The goldfinch runs to varieties called by dealers ' cheverels.' These have the throat white. 56. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Linn.). The siskin is a winter visitor and may be seen most years in varying numbers. In the early spring of 1 90 1 a flock of fully a hundred were noticed feeding in some fir trees near Park Place. It has bred in the neighbouring county of Oxon, and it is possible that an occasional brood may be reared in our county, as a young bird has been obtained as early as September near Park Place, and another was noticed as late as April 19, 1877 (W. H. Herbert, Trans. Newbury Club, 1872-5, p. 250). 57. House-Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linn.). This agricultural pest is found everywhere and in increasing numbers. Few people can have any idea of the damage committed by these birds, or surely sparrow-clubs would be restarted, for it is only by combination that their numbers can be kept in check. 58. Tree-Sparrow. Passer montanus (Linn.). Fairly common and resident, breeding in holes in pollard willows by the rivers, thatched roofs of outbuildings and other such situations. It appears to be rather local. 59. Chaffinch. Fringilla caelebs, Linn. Locally, Spink, Pink. Very numerous and resident. Last year (1901) they suddenly burst into song on January 31 not one or two males but dozens, and next day, although it was miser- ably wet with a temperature of 36, they were still singing. I never heard them so early before and cannot account for this sudden outburst. At the beginning of the year the last part of the ' song ' is left out. 60. Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla, Linn. A winter migrant, arriving towards the middle of October and returning to its northern home late in April. Although I have never known it absent altogether it is far more numerous in some years than in others, depending largely on the ' beech-mast ' crop. In this part of the county, where the hill- sides are clad almost entirely with beech, the numbers are sometimes almost incredible ; flocks of many hundreds may be seen coming in to roost. They are exceptionally hardy birds ; I never knew one come to the food put out for small birds in hard weather, although scores are in the woods close by, and even during the most prolonged frosts they do not die of starvation like so many others of the same family. Mr. A. Holte Macpherson in- formed me that he had seen and heard a male brambling in full song in Windsor Park in June, 1885. 61. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.). Locally, Brown Linnet, Lentie. A common resident, breeding on the gorse- covered tracts and also in shrubberies and pleasure grounds. It seems to show a par- tiality for box bushes, and I have found four- teen nests in one small corner of less than a quarter of an acre on the same day. M7
