INSESSORES. 89 



Lesser Redpole is very scarce there. This appears 

 somewhat curious ; for in the neighbourhood where 

 I reside the reverse of this is the case ; the Lesser 

 Redpole is caught every autumn by the London 

 birdcatchers, while the Mealy Redpole is very rarely 

 obtained. It is possible that this may be owing to 

 a difference in their food. At all events, it is notice- 

 able that in the neighbourhood of Elstree, where 

 the Mealy Redpole is found, there is a good deal of 

 alder growing, of the seeds of which it is very fond, 

 while in the vicinity of Kingsbury, where this bird 

 is scarce, the alder is also scarce, and the Lesser 

 Redpole, comparatively speaking, common. 



LESSER REDPOLE, Fringilla linaria. Our smallest 

 British Linnet. Generally appears towards the end 

 of autumn in small flocks, and may then be found 

 among the weeds along the banks of Kingsbury 

 Reservoir, on Hampstead Heath, Wormwood Scrubs, 

 Harrow Weald Common, and Stanmore Common. 



I am assured by Mr. Spencer that in May, 1857, 

 while taking a walk in the neighbourhood of Crickle- 

 wood, he discovered an old male Redpole feeding its 

 young. The fact of this species breeding so far 

 south is interesting, and is, moreover, of such rare 

 occurrence as naturally to raise a doubt in the 

 minds of ornithologists, were it not that in this 

 instance the fact is well authenticated. Mr. Spencer 

 not only obtained a near view of the male bird, but 

 had leisure to examine the nest and young. 



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