Chaffinch, Fringilla cœlebs.—At Heligoland, Sept. 17th, great many beginning to pass; 25th, enormous numbers passing on high overhead in a westerly direction; 26th, hundreds of thousands high overhead; 27th, some; 28th, thousands so high overhead that they cannot be seen, only their call-notes heard, all day long; Oct. 6th, 7th, and 8th, great many; 11th, same; 27th, still many passing. Great numbers have also arrived on the east coast; they are noticed at fourteen stations, from the Farne Islands to the Goodwins. At Farne Inner L.H., Sept. 1st, 2 a.m., one killed against glass, S.W., misty. At Whitby L.H., Sept. 27th, "Finches," "great rush," with many other species. At Great Cotes, Oct. 13th, very large flocks of females and young of the year about this date. At Dudgeon L.V., Oct. 16th, one male caught on deck; 28th, same; Dec. 5th, one same, going W. At Lynn Well L.V., Oct. 5th and 23rd, many S.E. to N.W.; 25th, in smaller flocks to N.W. At Northrepps, Oct. 13th, Mr. J. H. Gurney saw a huge flock in a stubble-field on the cliff, which he thinks must have come in from the sea. At Leman and Ower L.V., Oct. 19th, 8 to 12 p.m., o.m., six caught on deck. At Newarp L.V., 2 to 3 p.m., Oct. 6th, 14th, and 18th, each day to S.W. At Cockle L.V., Oct. 6th, two on board caught. At Corton L.V., 7 p.m., several males alighted on deck; 15th, 6 p.m., one male caught. At Galloper L.V., Oct. 9th to Nov. 6th, on several days, sometimes with Larks, twelve Larks, nine Chaffinches killed night of Oct. 9th, o.m., heavy rain. At Kentish Knock L.V., Oct. 7th, two at sunrise to S.W.; 15th, two, male and female, caught; 17th, W.S.W., three or four hundred very high to S.W. At Swin Middle L.V. Sept. 18th, sunrise to 10 a.m., Chaffinches with Linnets to W. At Gull L.V., Sept. 28th, 9 to 11 a.m., continuous flocks of Linnets, Starlings, Chaffinches, and Mountain Sparrows to W., many of each on deck. The main immigration of the Chaffinch was from the middle of September to end of October, the bulk of the immigrants crossing south of Yarmouth. The "great rush" on or about Oct. 13th.
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla.—At Heligoland, Sept. 25th, many; 27th, some; Oct. 8th, great many; and on 27th, still more, and also good many throughout November. On the English coast few have been observed. At Flamborough, Jan. 13th, some large flocks. At Leman and Ower L.V., Oct. 6th, one male caught.
Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus.—None are recorded as passing Heligoland. On our east coast they were observed at eleven stations, but none are recorded north of Spurn. In North-east Lincolnshire, Oct. 13th, very large flocks were seen about this date. At Dudgeon L.V., Oct. 5th, "Sparrows" to W. At Newarp L.V., Oct. 25th, six going W. by N. At Corton L.V., Oct. 7th, several alighted on ship for a short time, going E. to W. At Kentish Knock L.V., Oct. 9th, seven on board till squall had passed. At Shipwash L.V., Nov. 28th, flocks to N.N.W. At Tongue L.V., Sept. 28th, 11 a.m., o.m., about one hundred Sparrows on masthead; Oct. 24th, twenty to W. at noon. At North Foreland L.H., from October to third week in December, hundreds "mixed" were seen. At Goodwin L.V., Sept. 28th to Nov. 5th, on five days, often with Larks to W. At Gull L.V., Sept. 28th, continuous with other birds from 9 to 11 a.m. to W.; Oct. 16th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., continuous to W. At East Goodwin L.V., Sept. 25th, Oct. 9th, and 11th, flocks flying about ship; 17th, flock from N.W. to S.E.; Jan. 8th, about one hundred from W. to E. towards French coast. From Sept. 25th to Nov. 28th, the majority passing across at the most southern stations the four lightships on the Goodwin Sands. It is possible that some of the entries of "Sparrows," where not distinctly specified, may refer to the Common Sparrow, which is now recognised as a regular immigrant.
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus.—At Heligoland, Mr. Gätke says, "Up towards the end of July all young Sparrows disappeared from the island," and "up to middle of September nearly all old Sparrows had also quitted the island." Oct. 10th, "Sparrows latterly influx," from which it appears that the local Sparrows leave, the young first, then the old, and their place is taken by a fresh arrival. At Spurn, last week in Nov., Mr. Hewetson saw an immense flock—hundreds upon hundreds—on the shore, evidently quite fresh arrivals; amongst them was a Reed Bunting. At Outer Dowsing L.V., Sept. 26th, 5 p.m., twenty House Sparrows came on board, travelling from S.E. to N.W.; and on Oct. 2nd, at 4 p.m., eight going E.S.E. to W. At Kentish Knock L.V., Oct. 10th, one Common Sparrow; and on 12th, two, till squall had passed, then to S.W. At Casquets L.H., Alderney, Oct. 13th to 17th, at midnight, Common Sparrows with Thrushes, Blackbirds, Starlings, and Wood Pigeons, to English coast.
Greenfinch, Coccothraustes chloris.—At Heligoland, Oct. 27th, many; Nov. 20th, great many. At Corton L.V., Oct. 31st, one, a male, caught.
Goldfinch, Carduelis elegans.—At Heligoland, Oct. 27th, some; also through November and December; on Dec. 17th, great many. At Great Cotes, some small flocks in North-east Lincolnshire in October and November, more than have been seen for many years. On Suffolk coast, mouth of Deben, Nov. 1st, seven.
Siskin, Carduelis spinus.—At Heligoland, Sept. 16th, a.m., "flights in my garden of (say) fifty; p.m., flights of hundreds"; 17th, "hundreds of thousands"—"flights like clouds"; 25th, many; Oct. 7th, great many; 27th, many still passing; Nov. 4th, W., still some flights. On English coast of Spurn, Oct. 27th, small flock seen. At Northrepps, Sept. 16th, seen by Mr. J. H. Gurney. Have also been reported as more plentiful than usual in other parts of country.
Lesser Redpole, Linota rufescens.—In Lincolnshire there were very considerable numbers in our east coast marshes early in October; in one instance, on the 7th, I saw a flock of two hundred in a stubble-field near the coast. At Spurn, Oct. 28th, Mr. Wm. Eagle Clarke saw a flock near Kilnsea.
Linnet, Linota cannabina.—At Heligoland, Oct. 4th, great many, first comers; 6th, some; 28th, with Twites, great many. On the English coast, Whitby L.V., Sept. 27th, with many others. At Corton L.V., Oct. 5th, one E. to W. At Swin Middle L.V., Sept. 18th, sunrise to 10 a.m., with Chaffinches to W.; and on previous day, Sept. 17th, all day to N.N.W. with Swallows. At Gull L.V., Sept. 26th to Oct. 25th, on six days with other birds to W. and S.W.; continuous all day on Oct. 24th and 25th. At South-sand Head L.V., Oct. 18th and 21st, Linnets with others all day; 26th, all day with others to W. and N.W. Immense numbers appear to have crossed from Oct. 1st to 26th at the stations off the Essex and Kent coasts; none, or very few only, at stations north of this.
Twite, Linota flavirostris.—Is not recorded on the English coast. At Heligoland, Oct. 16th, many passed, first comers; and on 17th, great many; 20th, great many; and on 25th, 26th, and 27th, lesser flights; 28th, many with Linnets.