BEAM BUNG.
bird (n male) being at that date, of course, iu winter plumage. This variety has previously been alluded
to by several writers.
A very large tloek of Brambling* took up their quarters for several weeks from the end of March
1875 in a beech-plantation on the hill near Faliuer in Susses. Some scores of Challinches were among
their numbers; and a few Tree-Sparrows also kept company with them. During the day they resorted
to the arable laud for food, retiring when disturbed to the adjoining beech-woods. Many of the males were in
line plumage ; and I secured two or three early in April that showed the perfect breeding-dress; the
beaks had also assumed a blue tint. I noticed this gathering, though in considerably reduced numbers,
still frequenting the district at the end of the mouth; a week or so later I learned they had all taken
their departure. By May it is probable that all except a few stragglers have left oiu: shores.
1 have met with this species during the summer months on hut one occasion. While lishing in the
west of Perthshire, in Juno 18G(i, I was forced to ascend a beech tree to release the line, which bad
become entangled in the branches; and while so engaged a female Brambling was disturbed from her
uest, containing three eggs, which was placed close to the stem of the tree. Being anxious to procure
the newly fledged young as specimens, I left her in peace ; and on again visiting the spot iu about ten
days or a fortnight tho nest was empty; and, judging by lis appearance, I should he of opinion that
the young birds had been dragged out by a cat.
This is the only instance I am acquainted with of the Brambling attempting lo rear its young in Great
Britain. During subsequent year.- I have both carefully searched the same locality anil made many Inquiries,
but invariably without success, though the bird was well known by those to whom I applied for information.
T R E E - S P A R R O W .
PJSSER MONTANUS.
Tnore.ri stated by various authors to be widely distributed over the British Islands, it is only in the southern
and eastern counties of England and in East Lothian that I have recognized the Tree-Spanow.
I n some parts of Norfolk this species is nine st as numerous as the I louse-Sparrow, a few remaining iu the
vicinity of their qimrters throughout the year. According to my own observations, this Sparrow is only an
occasional visitor to the downs of Sussex, arriving in Qoeks on the approach of cold weather, passing gradually
along the rauge of hills from east to west, and again making their appearance w bile on the n't urn journey in the
spring. Towards the end of March 11>7"' I remarked a few of these birds, in company with Chaffinches and
lh Holdings, resorting to the large beech-woods at Palmer, near Brighton ; after remaining in the district till
about the middle of April the flock gradually disappeared. On Iwo or three occasions Tree-Sparrows were met
with late in autumn flying along the links near Dirclton and also between Canty Bay and Dunbar in Bast
Lothiau ; in all probability these birds were migrants which had recently crossed the Norlh Sea.
Numbers of this species arrive on our <-astcrn coasts from the northern countries of Europe during autumn.
While steaming in company wilh the hcrring-thvl. in order to make observations, I frequently noticed these
bird- while on passage. Occasionally . when weary and worn out, they would ali.-hl on board, and selecting
some quiet corner, turn Iheir heads over on their backs and puffing out their feathers instantly fall asleep.
After resting for a time a few now and then flew duwu on the deck end peeked about among the crumbs of
bread and other food provided for the accommodation of our small feathered visitors ; when revived they
invariably took their departure before darkness set in, heading straight for the land. The migration appears to
be continued through the whole of October, the latest straggler that I heard of being a single bird captured on
hoard the ' Xcwnrp' Healing light during the gale that commenced on Monday the l l t l i of Noveuils-r, 1^72,
and continued during the whole of the week. On boarding the vessel on the Mth I learned thai only seven
birds had fallen on deck during the si or ni, the force of the wind being so great that the majority of those
striking the lights were carried overboard.
The scientific name of Punter uiontamit bestowed on this speics appears as inappropriate as that of iirborciit.
Though Tree-Sparrows when moving westward on the approach of winter usually pass along I he Sussex downs,
I never on other occasions met with these birds in a billy country, their strongholds in Great Britain being
evidently the Hat portions of the midland and eastern counties, .Many of the earlier writers on ornithology
(who have been followed, in some instances, by those of a later date I exhibit but little knowledge concerning the
habits of Ibis species. The following bin's an' extracted from a well-known work ;—" It is now perfectly clear
that this bird n-sides amongst trees only, and that it makes its nest in boles and cavities of such as a re decayed,
and never amongst the branches nor iu buildings." I took especial pains to hunt out the breeding-quaiters
of these birds round several farms in the cast of Norfolk during the summer of 187$, and in every instance the
nests were placed amongst buildings, some in cowsheds, others under the tiles of outhouses, and three