MEALY REDPOLL. 187 



Of the different races of Mealy Redpoll, as classified by 

 modern ornithologists, three have occurred in Yorkshire, 

 and these will be treated separately and in order.* The 

 one to be first considered is L. linaria, what may be termed 

 the typical form ; this is an inhabitant of northern Europe 

 and Asia, and an uncertain winter visitant to this county, 

 some years being comparatively abundant, while perhaps 

 several seasons may intervene between its visits. 



It is very scarce in the West Riding, though a large number 

 were observed in the Aire valley in the winter of 1877-8, 

 and a flock was seen at Kirkburton in 1876 ; it has also been 

 met with sparingly in other localities ; several were shot at 

 Fewston in the winter of 1892 ; it has been once reported 

 from Ackworth, and one with curved mandibles is recorded 

 at Skipton (Zool. 1883, p. 259). 



In the East and North Ridings it has occurred rarely 

 at a few inland places ; there was a flight at Beverley some 

 years ago ; and at Market Weighton, Pocklington, Richmond, 

 and Thirsk it has been noticed, but only as a very scarce 

 winter visitant. 



On the coast line it appears at intervals in considerable 

 flocks, as in 1855, 1861, and 1876, and then for years it may be 

 absent altogether. A large arrival took place, in company 

 with Siskins, in October 1881 ; at Spurn a great flight arrived 

 on the night of the 24th, and a beautiful adult male was 

 caught at early morning of the 25th, fourteen or fifteen more 

 being seen in a garden. They were numerous in the vicinity of 

 Spurn, Kilnsea, and Easington from the 25th to the 27th, 

 in small parties of thirty or forty, but generally three or four 

 on plants of Sea Starwort. Some were beautiful old birds, 

 very mealy, and besides the patch of blood red on the forehead, 

 had the breast and rump washed with delicate crimson rose. 

 Out of twenty-four obtained from various flocks all but two 

 were males, either old or young ; the stomachs contained seeds. 

 There was a marked difference in the length and depth of 



* See Yarrell's " British Birds, ' 4th Ed., Vol. ii., pp. 5-7 ; and 

 Saunders' Manual, 2nd Ed., p. 189. 



