The Zoologist— May, 1866. 225 



I do not think our residents separate the sexes in winter, as both may 

 be seen all the year round: certainly males may be oftener seen in the 

 spring, but then tfteir loud note and conspicuous perch make them 

 plainly visible. I can give no reason, why we see these large flocks of 

 female chaffinches in the autumn and early winter. 



Greenjinch. — Resident. , More plentiful in summer and autumn 

 than in winter. 



Mountain Finch. — A not plentiful or regidar winter visitor. This 

 bird breeds in Ireland. 



Hawjinch. — Same remarks, but does not breed. 



Siskin. — Same remarks. Breeds in suitable localities in Ireland 

 occasionally. 



Lesser Redpole. — Resident. Enormous flocks visit favoured 

 localities in winter. Arrival uncertain, departure end of March. 



Mealy Redpole.— U the bird I forward you for inspection is the 

 mealy redpole, it breeds sometimes in Ireland, and is not very rare in 

 winter. Being anxious to know the species, I wrote to Mr. Gardner, 

 of Holborn, taxidermist, for a skin of the mealy redpole, a year ago, 

 which on arriving I considered Fringilla linaria in winter dress. I 

 returned the bird as F. linaria, and not F. borealis, and received a 

 reply that Mr. Frederick Bond had authenticated it as F. borealis ; 

 however, Mr. Gardner did not send the bird again. The specimen 

 now before you is twenty degrees more " mealy" than that sent by 

 Mr. Gardner, and was shot (cruelly if you will) whilst feeding its 

 young, by myself on account of its mealy look. The three young 

 I sent to Mr, T. CuUen, sub-curator of the College, &c., Dublin, to 

 preserve, but 1 think he failed in doing them, though he has two, 

 I think, in spirits ; they were from the nest for some days. The other 

 two and the female 1 would not kill. I will never consider the mealy 

 redpole as distinct from the common other than as a very old bird, or 

 a northern or permanent variety. A very old male linnet is far more 

 distinct from a middle-aged bird than the two redpoles ; in fact, I have 

 seen linnets so intensely crimson on the breast and head, and mealy 

 above, that I even pardoned some for believing them the "greater 

 redpole." [I think the bird a large specimen of the lesser redpole. — 



E. N.^ 



Twite. — Resident; great additions in hard weather. 



Crossbill. — Has occurred in autumn. I never met with it. 



Waxwing. — Has ocou'red. 



Starling. — Common in winter. It breeds in very limited numbers. 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. I. 2 G 



