408 LINOTA LINARIA. 



[§ 2190. 0?ir. — Greenland. Erom Syssehnand H. C. Miiller, 

 1859. 



This was given to me at Copenhagen, and, if I am right in my ideas as to the 

 distribution of the species of Redpoll, is most likely that of L. hornemanni.'] 



LINOTA LINARIA (Linnaeus). 



MEALY REDPOLL. 



The Mealy Redpoll most seasons is seen throughout the winter in 

 Lapland, though the greater number go southwards. Even in the 

 breeding-time it seems to be a gregarious bird, for a considerable 

 number of nests are to be found in a small space of the birch-forest, 

 and the region of birch trees seems to be its proper habitat. In 1854 

 I principally met with it in a small district at a great elevation 

 towards the Norwegian frontier. \n 1855, when all soft-billed birds 

 were so scarce after the preceding severe winter in the south, the 

 Mealy Redpolls were abundant everywhere, from the very strands of 

 the Arctic Ocean, over the mountains, where the nests were often 

 close to the ground (as, indeed, they are sometimes in otiier situations), 

 to the extensive forests of Muonioniska. 



The eggs are very variable in size, shape, and marking, generally 

 less than eggs from Greenland, where the bird, whether it be considered 

 distinct or not, appears to be of a larger size ; but it is remarkable 

 how precisely nests from such distant parts of the world resemble 

 each other in materials and structure ; not a twig nor a filament in 

 the pretty nests from Greenland but what is repeated in the equally 

 pretty Lapland nests. 



The time for laying seems very variable. In one wood eggs and 

 young birds are to be found in every stage of advance before there 

 could have been time for any to belong to a second brood. 



[These paragraphs, written by Mr. Wolley in 18oG for Mr. Hewitsou's use, are 

 here reprinted, with some sliglit alterations, from the third edition of that 

 gentleman's work (pp. 202* et seq.). lie also figurr^d (pi. li.*) two eggs out of several 

 sent to him for that purpose ; but the particular specimens he chose I have not 

 been able to identify with certainty. He confessed that he was not a believer in 

 the distinctness of the Mealy and the Lesser Redpoll, and admitted the former as a 

 species rather against his will. This may have led him to rela-x his accustomed 

 care in portraying the subject of his figures. 



It is to be borne in mind that some of the eggs hero entered as those of Linota 



