136 FRINGILLID^. 



narrowest part and Mr. Gray mentions its uncertain occurrence 

 near Glasgow, while it has been found in Dumfriesshire and 

 Galloway. It is possible that from the flocks thus attaining 

 this westerly longitude have strayed the examples which have 

 more than once been noticed in Salop though there is no 

 record of its occurrence in the intervening districts ; but the 

 bulk of those which strike Scotland never appear on the east 

 to come further south than Yorkshire, and even to reach that 

 county very seldom. In Northumberland and Durham how- 

 ever the bird is a common winter- visitant, and is occasionally 

 seen in large flocks. It is not recorded from Lincolnshire. 

 In Norfolk and Suffolk, it cannot be called an annual visitor, 

 yet flocks of greater or less size maybe met with in several con- 

 secutive seasons: it sometimes arrives so early as the middle 

 of October, and in the years 1847, 1855, 1861 and 1873 it was 

 extremely plentiful. From those counties it seems to pursue 

 its way through Essex to the London district, where the 

 Author has been told it was abundant about the year 1815 (in 

 which season the Lesser Redpoll is said to have been scarcely 

 got by the birdcatchers) and again in 1829 ; but though it 

 continues to shew itself at times there is no evidence of its 

 having since occurred in any great numbers. In some seasons 

 it also appears commonly near Brighton, especially, says Mr. 

 Knox, about 1834, but, according to the same authority, less 

 frequently of late years, though a few are almost always 

 taken by the birdcatchers in winter. Further to the west- 

 ward its occurrence is open to doubt, for, though Mr. Cocks 

 has mentioned (Nat. 1851, p. 112) its appearance near Pen- 

 zance, and the statement is confirmed by Dr. Bullmore, Mr. 

 Rodd expressly says of it " not Cornish." It is comparatively 

 seldom noticed in spring, but the Museum of Saffron- Walden 

 contained a male that was killed in that neighbourhood in 

 May, 1836, while one shot at Oundle by the late Mr. Pelerin 

 was sufficiently advanced in its plumage to have acquired a 

 considerable portion of red colour on the breast. The Editor 

 saw a cock, in full breeding-dress, which was obtained at 

 Riddlesworth in Norfolk, in July 1848 (Zool. p. 2382). 

 Mr. Stevenson also mentions the occurrence of a flock of 



