BIRDS. 115 



Sections. OSCINES CONIROSTRES. 



Family FRINGILLHXE. 

 Sub-family FRINGILLIN^. 



Carduelis elegans, Steph. Goldfinch. 



As is the case all through the north, the Goldfinch is an extremely 

 rare bird, but whereas in parts of the northern mainland of 

 Scotland the bird was at one time almost common, such never 

 seems to have been the case in Orkney. 



Mr. Cowan says, " not seen by him, but known to be here." 

 The only positive instance of its occurrence seems to be that of 

 one that was shot near Kirkwall by Hubbard in 1858, as a 

 note by the late Mr. J. G. Heddle informs us. 



Chrysomitris spinus (L.). Siskin. 



[Obs. Like the preceding, the Siskin seems to be extremely rare, 

 if not of doubtful occurrence in the Orkneys, and the only 

 specimen of which we have any actual record is a female which 

 was brought to Mr. T. W. Ranken ; it was in bad plumage, and 

 had been caught by a boy. Mr. Ranken suspected that it had 

 been turned out of, or escaped from, a cage, as it was quite tame, 

 and for this reason we enter the species under an observation.] 



Ligurinus chloris (L.). Greenfinch, 



Ore. = Green Linnet (B. and H.). 



This is a bird that has become a resident since Baikie and Heddle 

 wrote, possibly on account of the increase of plantations. In 

 their time it was only known as a winter visitant, as, indeed, 

 seems to be the case in Sanday, and probably all the other 

 islands in which no suitable breeding-place is to be found. 



The Greenfinch now breeds commonly on the Mainland, 

 and Mr. T. W. Ranken and Mr. Irvine-Fortescue have found 



