88 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



taken the eggs on Stanmore Common, Harrow 

 Weald Common, and Hampstead Heath. 



Mealy Redpole, Fringilla canescens. Mr. Yar- 

 rell says : * " The occurrence of the Mealy Redpole 

 in the vicinity of London is rare, even to those men 

 who, obtaining their livelihood by birdcatching, trap 

 hundreds of dozens of birds in the course of the 

 year. The Lesser Redpole, on the contrary, is 

 (sometimes) ver}^ common." I am enabled, however, 

 to add this species to my list on the authority of 

 Mr. Bond, who obtained some specimens at Kings- 

 bury several years ago. I learn also from the same 

 gentleman that in the autumn of 1861 he saw several 

 in that neighbourhood, and some of them were 

 afterwards taken by a birdcatcher. In October, 

 1863, three Meal}^ Redpoles were caught near Kil- 

 burn, together with some Linnets. This species is 

 known to the London birdcatchers by the name of 

 Stony Eedpole. 



The Hon. F. C. Bridgeman, in a notice lately 

 published of the ' Birds of Harrow,' says, that the 

 Mealy Redpole is occasionally seen and caught near 

 Harrow. 



I have very recently seen a pair of Mealy Redpoles 

 which were obtained near Elstree. The person in 

 whose possession they Avere informed me that this 

 bird may be obtained there every year, but that the 



« < 



History of British Birds.' 



