Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/229

Rh began to get scarce during the first week of October, but on the 10th I noticed a large flock passing S. over Grainsby at such an immense height that they were scarcely visible, looking like grains of sand. Last seen Oct. 15th.

Ligurinus chloris (Linn.). Greenfinch.—Very abundant in reeds and hedges near the coast on Oct. 17th. The flocks consisted of both males and females, and, I think, some young birds; about a third were old cocks. Not nearly so numerous on 18th.

Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pall. Hawfinch.—Less numerous than usual. I saw a few during the first week of November.

Passer domesticus (Linn.). House-Sparrow.—The first large flock appeared in the stubbles near the coast on Oct. 8th. The Sparrow took part in the great immigratory movement of mid-October, large flocks, in company with Tree-Sparrows, Redwings, and Rooks, frequenting the fields adjoining the sea-shore on the 13th, and still larger numbers on the 29th.

P. montanus (Linn.). Tree-Sparrow.—I noticed a few Tree-Sparrows among a large flock of the common species on Oct. 8th at North Cotes, and some small flocks on the 18th. The principal immigration, however, took place in November, and the species was very abundant in the vicinity of the coast on Nov. 12th and 20th, on the latter date in large flocks. In almost every case these birds were associating with the House-Sparrow.

Fringilla cœlebs, Linn. Chaffinch.—A good many Chaffinches—all old cocks—in the hedges near the coast on Oct. 13th. Again, on 20th, flocks were passing over Grainsby in the morning, and I saw many near the coast, apparently all cocks. On 25th a very large flock was feeding on the stubbles at Beesby on the wolds, and, as far as I could see, they also consisted entirely of cocks.

F. montifringilia, Linn. Brambling.—Though a great beechmast year, Bramblings were almost entirely absent. A single bird near the sea-bank at North Cotes on Oct. 20th was the only one I noted.

Linota cannabina (Linn.). Linnet.—Very large flocks of Linnets frequented the fields near the coast and the foreshore from the middle of September to the middle of October, when they gradually disappeared.