BIRDS. 119 



Linota rufescens (FidlL). Lesser Redpoll. 



Qrc.=Lintie. 



Probably confounded at times with the common linnet. Mr. 

 Moodie-Heddle says it is only an occasional visitant to Hoy. 

 Mr. T. W. Ranken says it is indigenous, though not plentiful, 

 on the Mainland, breeding in bushes, not on the ground ; while 

 about Stromness, in May 1890, Mr. J. Young found Linnets, 

 Redpolls, and Twites equally common. 



Mr. W. Reid considers this bird only a visitor. Mr. Harvey 

 says it breeds in Sanday, but this requires further confirmation, 

 the only species we saw there in 1888 being the Twite, though 

 it is extremely likely that the Common Linnet breeds there 

 sparingly as well. 



Mr. Gilmour noticed a Redpoll on the Pentland Skerries in 

 March 1888. 



Linota flavirostris (.). Twite. 



Ore. = Heather Lintie. 



Abundant everywhere and at all seasons, breeding on the ground, 

 amongst heather in most places, but taking kindly to trees, 1 

 bushes, and even ivy, where these are to be found. 



We took nests in these latter situations in Rousay in the 

 Westness garden, always using a glass to be sure as to the 

 identity of the bird ; indeed, we ourselves never happened to 

 come across a nest in any other situation, though all our corre- 

 spondents from other places give bunches of heather as the 

 most usual site. 



Mr. T. W. Ranken tells us he has found a Twite's nest in 

 the shell of a decayed turnip. 



Sub-family LOXIIN^E. 

 Pyrrhula europaea, Fieill. Common Bullfinch, 



Since Baikie and Heddle wrote their book we can only hear of one 

 other instance of the occurrence of the Bullfinch in Orkney. 

 Mr. W. Reid saw one at Butquoy, Kirkwall, in 1865. 



1 Twites also breed in currant bushes in the Outer Hebrides. (See Fauna of 

 the 0. H., p. 63.) 



