118 BIRDS. 



numerous in Hoy, and that some have bred since 1859; we, 

 however, saw none there in 1888. 



Mr. Reid of S. Ronaldsay informs us that he has taken 

 several Chaffinches' nests at Muddiesdale, and we ourselves saw 

 some birds there in June 1889, which were evidently breeding. 



Fringilla montifringilla, L. Brambling. 



We have little to add to what Baikie and Heddle say of this bird. 

 Mr. T. W. Kanken says he thinks he has seen Bramblings, 

 two or three at a time, in company with Snow Buntings, the 

 two species separating when disturbed, but he never actually 

 saw one dead in Orkney. Mr. Gilmour, the lighthouse-keeper 

 on the Pentland Skerries, has seen birds there that he supposed 

 to be Bramblings on one or two occasions. As he specially 

 mentions that, when flying, the rump was white, it is most likely 

 that his identification was correct. At page 98 of his Birds of 

 Shetland Mr. Saxby says : " I have ascertained that this species 

 has also become more abundant in Orkney during the last ten 

 or twelve years, but it has not yet been observed there in 

 summer." No authority, however, is given for this statement. 



Linota cannabina (L.). Linnet 

 Orc.=Lintie. 



Common, and resident even in Low's time, receiving large addi- 

 tions to its numbers in winter : it breeds in many localities 

 in the Mainland, and also in Rousay and Hoy. A male shot 

 in Rousay in December still retained some of the pink feathers 

 on its breast. 



Linota linaria (/,.). Mealy Redpoll. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that he knew of a specimen 

 of this bird, but that, from its great tameness, he imagined it 

 to have been an " escape." Mr. T. W. Ranken also says he has 

 seen the species occasionally, but does not consider it by any 

 means common. 



