A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE 49. Swallow. Hirundo ruttica, Linn. Locally, Common Swallow, House Swallow, Chimney Swallow, Barn Swallow. A common summer migrant from April to October, occurring everywhere in the county. 50. House-Martin. Qhelidon urbica (Linn.). Locall-j, Martlet, Martin Swallow, Window Martin, Eaves Swallow, Window Swallow. A common summer migrant from April to October, and generally distributed. 5 1 . Sand Martin. Cottle riparia (Linn.). Locally, Bank Martin, Pit Martin, Sand Swallow, Bank Swallow, River Swallow. Common, and one of the earliest of the swallow tribe to arrive, which it does about the middle of March, leaving again from August to October. 52. Greenfinch. Ligurinus chloris (Linn.). Locally, Green Grosbeak, Green Linnet, Green- bird. A common resident in the county. 53. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas. Locally, Common Grosbeak, Haw Grosbeak. Resident and fairly abundant. Ashdown says in the Woolhope Transactions for 1895, that during that winter several immature specimens were brought home for preservation from various parts of the county and had been undoubtedly hatched there. He adds that during the winter of 1 890-1, it was abundant in the county, over a score of specimens being sent him for preservation. I have seen it at Fownhope Court and believe it to be on the increase. It often occurs in the neighbourhood of Ross. 54. Goldfinch. Carduelis elegans, Stephens. Locally, Thistlefinch, Goldspink, Grey Kate, Grey Pate, Proud Tailor, Goldie, King Harry, Redcap. A resident, and common throughout the county. Bull says that the birdcatchers are exterminating it, but it is to be hoped that it will be recruited from Breconshire where it is still common. 55. Siskin. Carduelis Spinus (Linn.). Locally, Aberdevine. A resident, rare in summer and partly migratory. It has been seen at Llanwarne, Letton Court, 1883, and near Ross, on the banks of the Wye near Here- ford, occasionally at Bromyard, frequently at Kent- church and also occasionally at Ross. Occurs principally during the winter months. 56. House Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linn.). Common. 57. Tree Sparrow. Passer montanus (lAnn.). Locally, Mountain Sparrow. A local resident, Dr. Williams of Kingsland, men- tions that he has found the eggs of the great tit in the same nest with this bird's eggs. 58. Chaffinch. Fringilla coeMs, hinn. Locally, Pyefinch, Spink, Pink, Twink, Skelly, Shelly, Shell Apple, Scobby, Shilfa, Buck- finch, Horsefinch, Copper-finch, White- finch, Beetfinch, Wet-bird. Common and generally distributed throughout the county. A nest taken by Mr. Blake in his garden at Ross had bits of newspaper dotted all over it in place of lichen. He also took an egg at Gorsley half the normal size of a chaffinch's egg and well marked. 59. Brambling. Fringilla montifrinfflla, Linn. Locally, Mountain-finch, Bramble-finch, Lulean Finch. Usually occurs in the winter, coming in October and leaving in the spring. It is generally distributed throughout the county, and has been observed at Peterstowe, Gayton Hall, near Ross, and other places. 60. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Linn.). Locally, Common Linnet, Grey Linnet, Red Linnet, Brown Linnet, White Linnet, Linnet-finch, Redheaded-finch, Greater Redpole, Rose Linnet, Lintwhite, Lintie. A common resident. In some cases the breasts of the old cocks are a beautiful blood-red colour in the spring, but this disappears in captivity. 61. Mealy Redpole. Linota linaria (Linn.). A rare winter visitant, has occurred very occasion- ally in the county. Mr. Hutchinson observed a pair in his garden on Aylstone HUl, Hereford, in 1903. 62. Lesser Redpole. Linota rufescens (Vieillot). Locally, Common Redpole, Lesser Redheaded Finch, Rose Linnet. A resident and generally distributed in the county. It has been observed at Moreton, Kimbolton, an- nually at Kingsland, where it breeds (Williams), and is common at Bromyard and the Lugg Meadows, Hereford, where it also breeds. 63. Twite. Linota flavirostris (Linn.). Locally, Mountain Linnet, Twitefinch, Heather Lintie, Hill Lintie, Yellow-nebbed Lintie. Scarce. It has been observed on the Black Moun- tains. 64. Bullfinch. Pyrrhttla europaea, Vieillot. Locally, Bud, Budding Bird, Cock Hoop, Hoop, Hoof, Hope, Tope, Olph, Alp, Red Hoop, Nope. As might be expected from the number of woods in the county, this is still a common bird, although the late Dr. Bull remarked that it was becoming scarcer in many districts owing to birdcatchers. It may not be generally known that the seed of the common pansy is a very favourite food of the bullfinch, and every summer I have observed them feeding on the seed in my garden. 65. Crossbill. Loxia cuivirostra, Linn. Locally, Shell Apple. An uncommon and irregular winter visitor, seldom remaining long in one place. It has been seen at Baker's, of Hereford, in the flesh, and in 1889 there was a specimen received from Ross. One was shot at Kimbolton in 1869, and a small flock remained in the gardens for a few days in April, 1887. A flock was observed at Bromyard in December, 1894, and another in March, 1895, and a large flock appeared at Withington in November, 1898, and remained for several weeks. They caused great injury to the cider fruit by splitting them and eating the kernels (Pilley). A pair of these birds are in the Hereford Museum, and a pair were also obtained at Pontrilas on 6 April, 1895. This bird seems to visit us at times in considerable 134
