REDPOLES. . 117 
FRINGILLA HORNEMANNI., 
GREENLAND REDPOLE. 
Linota hornemanni, Holb, Naturh, Tidsk. iv. p. 398 (1843), 
The Lesser Redpole breeds more or less commonly in all the counties 
of England north of Norfolk and Leicester. South of this boundary 
it is not so common in summer, but, nevertheless, has been found 
breeding in the greater number of counties east of Somerset. In Scot- 
land its distribution appears to be regulated by the presence of woods 
and thickets, especially birch-plantations ; and Mr. Gray has never been 
able to trace it where such shelter is absent. It is a visitor to Iona and 
Islay, and Dixon met with it in Skye. It also visits the Orkneys on 
migration in considerable flocks. In Ireland it is as common as in the 
rest of the British Islands, but is most numerous in the north. 
The only known instance of the Lesser Redpole breeding out of the 
British Islands is that recorded by Professor Gigioli (‘ Ibis,’ 1881, p. 204), 
who obtained a nest from the Veglio Alps in Italy, about 7000 feet above 
the sea-level. In winter it has been obtained in France, Spain, Italy, and 
Western Germany, and passes through Belgium and Holland on migra- 
tion. 
The Mealy Redpole is an irregular winter visitor to our islands, chiefly 
to the northern portions. It is of less frequent occurrence in the eastern 
and south-eastern counties, and does not appear to have occurred west of 
Sussex. In Scotland it is chiefly met with in the east, and rarely in the 
south-western districts; it is, however, a regular winter visitor to the 
Orkneys. 
The Mealy Redpole is a circumpolar bird, breeding at or near the limit 
of forest-growth, and possibly in some of the alpine districts of central 
Europe. In winter it is found in various, localities throughout the whole of 
Central and Southern Europe. Eastwards it wanders as far as Turkestan, 
South Siberia, North China, and Japan. On the American continent 
it winters in South Canada and the Northern States. 
The Greenland Redpole has only once been obtained in our islands. An 
example was knocked down on the 24th of April, 1855, on the sea-banks 
near Whitburn, where it had been observed for several days previous to its 
capture. This specimen is in Mr. Hancock’s collection, and is figured 
in his ‘Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham’ (p. 54, 
pl. 5). 
The Greenland Redpole breeds in Greenland, Iceland, and Spitzbergen, 
where it is said to be resident ; but Mr. Brooks informs me that it appears 
in winter in Canada ; and, in addition to the specimen captured in England. 
