Lesser Redpole. 20T 



purposes, the main body of this species extends its migration 

 into the far north, even to the shores of the Icy Sea ; and is 

 chiefly seen in Sweden on passage to and from its nesting-places. 

 Some, however, remain in the pine forests of that country to- 

 breed, as indeed they do occasionally in Scotland and even in 

 the north of England. Mr. Withers, however, informed me that 

 he occasionally received one to preserve ; and Mr. Elgar Sloper 

 had a female in his collection that was killed at Rowde on its 

 nest in May, 1850. The Rev. A. P. Morres speaks of it as occa- 

 sionally visiting the neighbourhood of Salisbury ; and Mr. Baker 

 says it is to be found in small flocks on the downs near Mere, 

 both in summer and winter ; while Mr. King, bird-preserver at 

 Wai-minster, asserts that he has known instances of its breeding 

 in that locality ; but as none of these opinions as to its nesting 

 in Wilts have been corroborated by the production of the speci- 

 men, they must not be too readily accepted, more especially when 

 we consider that the species in question has congeners which 

 undoubtedly breed here, of such very close resemblance to it 

 in general appearance and colour and habits, that mistakes 

 might easily occur. I have also information that the eggs of 

 this species have been taken at Castle Combe by Mr. Watkins, 

 agent to Mr. Lowndes, and again near Maiiborough.* In France 

 it is Le Cabaret and Sizerin ; in Germany, Bergzeisig ; in Italy, 

 Montanello minore. The specific name, linaria, is simply 

 another form of linota, and with the same meaning, ' belonging 

 to flax or hemp.' It is a very small bird with bright plumage, 

 and closely resembles the Siskin in all its habits and motions ; 

 hence the name by which it is known in Scandinavia, Grd Siska, 

 while the true Siskin (C. spinus) is known as Grou Siska. Like 

 the true Siskin, it will also hang with its back downwards at the 

 extremity of the smaller branches of the birch and alder, and 

 assume a variety of constrained attitudes in its earnest endea- 

 vours to reach its favourite seeds ; in all which it also reminds 

 us of the family of Titmice. 



* See ' Reports of Marlborough College Natural History Society ' for 

 18GG, p. Ill ; and for 1878, p. 94. 



