Con- 



53 



haps locally in W. Ross, and absent from tlie Hebrides, Orkneys, etc. It 

 has however occurred on the Shetlands, Mingalay and in Barra (1897), 

 but does not breed there. It was first found nesting in Ireland by Ussher 

 in 1857, and since then has been found breeding locally in all four provinces. 



In Norway, though by no means common, it is known to breed ^.^^^^^^^ 

 chiefly in the forests of the south and east, as far as Trondhjem's Fjord, Europe. 

 and in Sweden appears to be chiefly confined to the middle of the country, 

 but nests in several localities in Sk^ne, Blekinge and Kronoberg in the 

 south. In Finland its range extends to Ule&borg (Pudasjarvi, Karlo, etc.). 

 A few pairs breed in the large coniferous forests of E. Jutland, and it has 

 also been known to nest on Falster and Bornholm. Throughout middle 

 Europe it is found locally in the larger coniferous woods of France, the 

 low Countries, Germany, Switzerland, Austro-Hungary, N. Italy, Bulgaria 

 (Baba-Flanina, Rhodope Mts., etc.), probably Montenegro, and Russia from 

 58° — 60° N. lat. to the Caucasus. 



Appears to be almost always placed in a conifer, Douglas, spruce, Nest. 

 silver or Scotch fir, larch and even deodara (Ussher). It has been asserted 

 that the nest is occasionally found in the birch forest, but further con- 

 firmation of the statement is desirable. The birds spend most of their 

 time about the tops of the tallest trees and generally build far out on 

 one of the branches, sometimes as much as 12 ft. from the stem. As the 

 usual height from the ground is about 40 — 50 and even 60 or 70 ft., it may 

 well be imagined that the nest is by no means easy to see.* Ussher 

 {Birds of Ireland, p. 57—58) gives many interesting details of the breeding 

 habits of this species in Ireland, and describes the nest as 1 f to 2 in. 

 wide across the cup and 1 ^ in. deep, less compact than that of the Gold- 

 finch, the light being sometimes visible through it. A number of small 

 dead twigs of fir or heather, often with grey lichens attached, are usually 

 built into the foundation of the nest, which consists chiefly of green moss, 

 with a few dry bents, bound round with wool or horsehair. The lining 

 consists of fine roots and sometimes also a few feathers, rabbit down, 

 cowhair, or thistle down. 



4 — 5 in number, but 6 are said to occur. They show great variation Eggs. 

 in size and also in colouring. The finest eggs I have seen were from Ire- 

 land, and were not only larger than any Scotch eggs which have come 

 under my notice, but also more brightly coloured. The ground colour 

 varies from a decided clear pale blue to a fainter tint. It is always clearer 

 and paler than the tint of the eggs of the Lesser Redpoll and the shell 

 is more glossy. The markings consist of pale red or reddish grey spots 

 and streaks, with a few spots of very dark red brown. 



* Exceptionally the nest has been found only 12 ft. from the ground (A. 

 Ellison). 



