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BIRDS 62. Twite. Linota flavirostris (Linn.) Resident and not uncommon in the moor- lands in the north of the county. It is a northern species, and Staffordshire forms part of the southern limit of its breeding range. 63. Bullfinch. Pj/rrhula europtea, Vieillot. A very generauy distributed resident. It is common in the woods of north Stafford- shire during the winter months. [Pine-Grosbeak. Pyrrhula enucleator (Linn.) Garner's work (p. 279) contains the follow- ing reference to this species : ' Needwood. Bred in an orchard, north Staffordshire, 1842.' Probably the hawfinch was mistaken for the present species.] 64. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. An uncertain visitor occurring in flocks during the winter months. As it is a very early breeder possibly some of the birds which have been observed in the spring may have bred in the county. Garner records the crossbill as ' seen near Burton, Uttoxeter, etc.,' and E. Brown says it occurred plentifully in the fir plantations near Burton about 1838 (Fauna of Burton, p. 100). It has also been reported from Barhill (near Madeley) and near Burton in 1879, and regularly for some years at Swynnerton (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 74). A bird in the red plumage from the Blurton collection of Staffordshire birds is now in the Derby Museum. Both old and young birds have been observed in woods near Cheadle (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1896). 65. Corn-Bunting. Emberiza miliaria, Linn. Local in the north of the county but not uncommon in the south and south-east, where it breeds. It also occurs in the west of the county at Willoughbridge (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1894, P r 55). 66. Yellow Hammer. Emberiza citrinella, Linn. Locally, Goldfinch. Very common throughout the county, sing- ing all through the summer from the highest twigs of hedgerows and feeding in winter in farmyards with other birds. 67. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. A nest with four eggs is said to have been found at Eccleshall on 24 May 1883 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 75). It is also said on Mr. E. A. Brown's authority to have been recorded from near Burton. 68. Reed - Bunting. Emberiza schceniclus, Linn. Locally, Reed-Sparrow. Fairly common in the neighbourhood of water, especially where reeds are found. 69. Snow - Bunting. Plectrophenix nivalis (Linn.) A rare winter straggler. There are two specimens in the Rolleston Hall museum, one of which was killed by a labourer with a stone on Rolleston meadows in October 1847 (Nat. Hist. ofTutbury, p. 44). Garner records it as seen at Burton, Whitmore Heath and Swynnerton, and in 1871 he says it has been shot at Cloud Hill. Mr. R. W. Chase states that one was found at Beech Lanes, Harborne, on 9 February 1888 (Birds of Staf- fordshire, p. 76). Dr. McAldowie reports one shot on 22 January 1895 at Cliffe Ville close to Stoke-on-Trent while feeding in company with larks (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1895, p. 88). 70. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. Abundant everywhere, often seen in im- mense flocks during the autumn and winter. Three white birds and one cream-coloured are recorded in the Birds of Staffordshire (p. 7 6). 71. Rose-coloured Starling. Pastor roseus (Linn.) One was seen near Rushton Spencer in 1875 (Birds of Staffordshire, p. 77). 72. Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.) Still fairly numerous in wooded districts although persistently trapped and shot by keepers. 73. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli) Locally, Chatterpie. Not very numerous, but one or two pairs are nearly always to be seen on the moorlands and near common lands. In winter flocks of twenty to thirty are sometimes seen in the north of the county, and Mr. R. H. Read once counted as many as ninety in one plantation (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1894, p. 50). Instances of the eviction of magpies from their nests by kestrels, and also apparently by jack- daws, have been noted in the Reports of the North Staffs Field Club. 74. Jackdaw. Corvus monedula, Linn. A common resident everywhere, often nesting in large colonies in holes of trees where there is much old timber as at Okeover, as well as in chimneys and church towers in 147