292 BRITISH BIRDS. 



from the mainland, presumably, but unfortunately no data 

 are -given. 



Mr. W. Evans kindl}^ informs me {in Hit.) that lie obtained a 

 specimen of this form near Dunbar (Haddington) on October 

 29th, 1910, and submitted it to Dr. Hartert, who confirmed 

 the identification. Holboll's Redpoll has very seldom been 

 recorded from the British Islands (c/. Vol. I., p. 182), and 

 never before so far as I know from Scotland, though it has 

 doubtless occurred and has escaped detection. 



Mr. F. W. Frohawk has very kindly shown me a male 

 specimen of this form which was caught at Cambridge on 

 December 12th, 1910, and identified by him. 



I have referred above to this form being a doubtful one. 

 It differs from the typical bird only by its larger bill and 

 longer wing, but it is well kno\\'n that the measurements 

 vary, and some birds with large bills have short wings and 

 vice versa. Moreover in Russian Lapland in 1899 I found 

 both forms with nests on the same breeding-grounds, and 

 shot both forms out of the same little family-parties. At 

 the same time until the question is finally decided, specimens 

 with the characters of L. I. holboeUi should be carefully 

 recorded. — H.F.W. 



CouEs's Redpoll at Fair Isle. — Coues's Redpoll {L. 

 hornemanni exilipes) is also recorded by Mr. W. E. Clarke 

 {i.e., p. 53) from Fair Isle, but no data are given. This 

 Redpoll has previouslv only been known from Yorkshire 

 (cf. Vol. I., p. 183). 



Northern Bullfinches in Scotland. — With reference 

 to the notes {supra, pp. 211 and 250) on the occurrence of 

 P. p. pyrrhula in Shetland and Yorkshire, several are recorded 

 from the Isle of May (October 22nd, 1910, two ; October 26th, 

 two ; November 2nd, one) by Miss E. V. Baxter and Miss 

 L. J. Rintoul {Ann. S.N.H., 1911, p. 4), and others were 

 reported from Unst (Shetland) and Fair Isle to Mr. W. Eagle 

 Clarke, who remarks that they seem to have been first noticed 

 on October 24th, and that in some localities as many as ten 

 were seen on single days {t.c, p. 54). We could have Avished 

 for more details of these interesting occurrences. 



Great Spotted Woodpeckers Breeding in Scotland. — 

 With reference to the note on this subject on page 256 and 

 Mr. Millais's observations in Perthshire, Mr. J. B. Dobbie 

 MTites me that the bird has to his certain knowledge nested 

 in the neighbourhood of Dunkeld since 1907 and probably 

 before. Mr. Dobbie also informs me that Mr. George Black- 



