FRINGILLIDAE—LINNET.
119
den in 1842, which has a white crown, and a narrow white ring almost en.
circling the neck. A specimen "of a light yellow colour, with the exception
of the white bars on the wings " has been obtained near Stratford.
Brambling: Fringilla montifringilla. Locally, " Bramble-
finch."
A somewhat irregular and usually rather uncommon winter visi-
tant, though sometimes appearing in considerable numbers, es-
pecially during severe weather.
Henry Doubleday mentions (10) a
flock he saw at Epping about October
1st, 1840, and says that a large flock
passed over on January 14th, 1844. In
the same district, his brother Edward
speaks of it (15) as " an occasional visi-
tant at the time of their spring and autumn
migrations." Mr. Buxton says (47. 87)
that in Epping Forest it is " more frequent
in the winter than is usually supposed. A
few years since there were large flocks
feeding upon the beech-nuts." Mr. Joseph
Clarke says (24) that small flocks appear
round Saffron Walden in winter, and dur-
ing a spell of cold weather in March, 1883,
many were shot round the town. I also saw
some fine birds about. King describes it (20) as " an occasional winter visitant to
Sudbury." It is common, in some seasons, in both the Colchester and Paglesham
districts (Laver), and Mr. Kerry says it is common most winters round Harwich.
Mr. Fitch has frequently noticed it at Maldon. Mr. Stacey of Dunmow has a
remarkable variety with the head, neck and throat entirely black. Mr. J. H.
Gurney, jun., has a very similar specimen.
Linnet : Linota cannabina. Locally, " Red Linnet" (male).
An abundant resident, especially in the vicinity of commons and
uncultivated grounds, the more so if near the coast.
Lieut. Legge says (23. 9839) :
" Next to the Lark there is hardly any bird so common on this coast [Shoe-
bury]. They frequent the sandy ground near the shore feeding on the seeds of
the rank herbage which grows on the saltings. They nest here in great numbers,
and build sometimes within half a dozen yards of the shore, in the brambles grow-
ing on the sea-walls."
W. H. Hill of Southminster speaks of it (12. vi. 452) as occurring " in immense
flocks on the sea-shore " about 1832, and in 1880, " immense numbers " arrived on
the Essex and Kentish coasts between October 1st and 26th—none, or very few,
were observed further north (44. 47). Mr. Buxton says (47. 88) " large numbers
were taken by bird-catchers on Wanstead Flats a few years ago."
Mr. T. E. Gunn exhibited a variety shot on Canvey Island, on February 28th,
1882, before the Linnean Society on the 19th of June, 1883. It was pure
white, with the exception of the quill-feathers of the wings and tail.