466 RARE BRITISH BIRDS 



SNOWFINCH [Montifrinyilla nivdlis (Linnaeus). French, piivson de niege, luverollc; German, 

 Sclmeefink; Italian, fringuello alpino]. 



1. Description. Resembles the snow-bunting in having the under parts and the second- 

 aries pure white, but it differs from the latter in having the rump black, and the head grey 

 instead of white. Length 6i in. [165 mm.]. The sexes are alike both in size and coloration, 

 and the adults in winter have the black spot on the chin less clearly denned and the bill orange 

 instead of black; top of the head and back of the neck dark grey, with mesial streaks of 

 black ; mantle, scapulars, and back greyish brown ; middle of the rump black, sides of the 

 rump pure white ; primaries black ; primary coverts, secondaries and their coverts pure white ; 

 middle pair of tail feathers black, remainder of the tail pure white, slightly tipped with black; 

 under surface of the body greyish white; middle of the throat black tipped with white; 

 axillaries and under wing-coverts white, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Confined in the breeding season to the higher mountain ranges of Central 

 andSouthern Europe ; the SierraNevada in Spain (Stark), Pyrenees, the Alpine system, Apennines ; 

 Montenegro, mountains of Greece and perhaps also Northern Palestine (Hermon and Lebanon). 

 Replaced by allied forms in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Descends to the lower country in 

 the winter months, visiting Germany and Austro-Hungary. One record from Sweden, and three 

 obtained in England (Sussex and Kent). [F. c. R. j.] 



GREENLAND-REDPOLL [Linota lindria rostrdta (Coues)]. 1 



1. Description. Is very closely allied to Holboll's redpoll, but may be recognised by the much 

 more obtuse bill, and by being heavily streaked with black on the flanks. The male resembles 

 the female, but the latter lacks the rose-red colour of the chest. Length 5 - 7 in. [140 mm.]. Top of 

 the head crimson-red. The upper parts, including the wings and tail, blackish brown edged with 

 whitish. In the breeding season these parts have the white edgings worn off to a great extent, 

 producing an almost uniform dark appearance ; rump washed with rose colour ; chin and lores 

 black; the throat, chest, and upper breast rose-red, remainder of under parts white, heavily 

 streaked with brownish black. The young bird has no red on the crown, the head and back 

 being alike, i.e. black, margined with brownish buff, giving these parts a streaked appearance, 

 [w. P. P. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Breeds in Southern Greenland, migrating south through Canada and 

 the western United States. Has been recorded from the islands of Scotland (Barra, Shetlands, 

 Flannans, S. Kilda, Fair I., etc.) and the west of Ireland (Mayo and Kerry), but not elsewhere in 

 Europe. [F. c. R. j.] 



HOLBOLL'S REDPOLL [Linota lindria holboelli (Brehm)]. 



1. Description. Of doubtful status. It is a larger form of the mealy-redpoll, distinguished 

 by its longer and heavier bill. Otherwise the changes of plumage and the difference in the 

 colour of the male and female are the same as those of the mealy-redpoll (see vol. i. p. 73). 

 [w. P. P. and r j\ w.] 



2. Distribution. As this form appears to breed well within the range of the ordinary 

 mealy-redpoll, it is questionable whether it is due to individual variation or whether it is to be 

 regarded as a distinct form. It has been met with in Northern Europe and Asia, as well as in 

 N. America, and seems generally to breed farther north than its allies, though everywhere some- 

 what irregularly and in colonies. On migration it occurs irregularly in the British Isles, 

 Holland, Germany, Austro-Hungary, Russia, Central Asia, North Japan, and North-eastern 

 America, sometimes in company with the mealy-redpoll . [F. c. R. J.] 



1 In Section 1 of the British Bird Bool, flammea was used as the specific name of tl;e niealy-redpolls (pp. 72-3). 

 This has been shown by Reichenow to be erroneous, the true name being linnriu (Liimi us). 



