188 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



LESSEE EEDPOLL. 



Linota mf esc ens (Vieillot). Mem. B. Ac. Sc. Tor., 

 xxiii., p. 202 (1816). 



Lesser Eedpoll, Boys, 1792. 



The Lesser Eedpoll is plentiful during" the autumn and 

 winter throughout Kent, especially so in Komney Marsh, 

 where they obtain a large variety of wild seeds. In the 

 summer it almost disappears, a few remaining in secluded 

 localities for breeding. From the following notes it 

 does not appear that the Lesser EedpoU's habits are 

 confined to any particular position or surroundings for 

 its nesting place. 



In the Zoologist, 1864, Mr. Charles Wharton relates 

 how he obtained the nest of this species : " On May 18, 

 1863, we found a Lesser EedpoU's nest at Tunbridge 

 Wells ; it was placed about 4 feet from the ground, in 

 a furze-bush considerably overgrown with a bramble, in 

 a small, unworked, and totally over-grown chalk-pit, on 

 the south side of a hill. The hill was principally sur- 

 rounded by wood and thicket, but was itself meadow- 

 land. The nest looked like that of a Linnet, but on going 

 to it three days afterwards we were instantly undeceived. 

 The male was singing, or rather twittering, in the small 

 trees close by, and we soon recognised him as a Lesser 

 Eedpoll, with whose song in confinement we were well 

 acquainted, as I had lately had one in my possession for 

 some time. This bird of mine had died a few months 

 previously, but not before he had paired with a hen 

 Canary ; and his only son I have now. We were 

 further satisfied as to the identity, by the female allow- 



