The Zoologist — Jdly, 1870. 2223 



On the Northern Mange of the Lesser Redpoll. — In the last number of the 

 'Zoologist' (S. S. 2178) the Editor writes, "The lesser redpole is found everywhere 

 from the North Cape to the extreme south of Sicily." I venture to enquire on what 

 evidence this statement rests, for it seems probable to me that it may have originated 

 in the confounding of the mealy with the lesser redpoll. The former is the only 

 species of redpoll I have ever observed in any part of either Norway or Sweden, and 

 is without any doubt the true Fiingilla linaria of Linnaeus. The northern range of 

 the latter, to which (I believe) the name Fringilla rufescens, Vieillot, properly belongs, 

 I have not been able to trace with certainty. I think I remember having been told 

 that it appears in summer in Scania, the most southern province of Sweden, hut I can 

 tind no confirmation of the slory in the writings of any Scandinavian naturalist to 

 which I have access. However, if the lesser redpoll crosses the Baltic at all it 

 certainly does not penetrate far into Sweden, and between Scania and the most 

 southern Swedish breeding limits of the mealy redpoll, placed by Herr Wallengren 

 (Naumannia, 1854, p. 241) between lat. 63° and 64° N.,* there intervenes a broad 

 belt wherein, so far as my information (obtained by personal observation and the 

 consultation of a great many Swedish authorities) goes, no redpoll at all occurs except 

 as a winter migrant; and the one which does so occur is (I need hardly say) the 

 northern and larger species. Should this information be erroneous I should be glad 

 if any one would correct it, for the geographical range of British birds, always 

 a subject of much interest to me, will more than ever occupy my attention for some 

 months to come. — Alfred Newton ; Magdalene College, Cambridge, June 3, 1870. 



St. Helena Finch at Blackheath.— I had brought me this week a fine male 

 specimen of Fringilla butyracea or St. Helena finch. The bird is in perfect plumage, 

 and shows no marks of having been caged. It was caught by a bird-catcher in his 

 net near this neighbourhood. This is the second I have had caught in this neigh- 

 bourhood : the first was taken eight years ago in Greenwich Marshes. I come to the 

 conclusion that they have escaped after being brought over. — W. Price; Blackhealh. — 

 From the ' Field.' 



Nesting of the Chaffinch.— 1 have known but of four nests of this bird this year, 

 and only one pair of the four reared young. One nest, which was built in an apple 

 tree, was blown down, or otherwise unaccountably destroyed : no one had access to it; 

 it contained eggs. Another contained five eggs, but only two hatched. The female 

 of another nest died while in the act of laying the second egg. I have frequently 

 found finished nests, either whoUy destroyed or with the lining pulled out. Other 

 completed nests I have often found deserted. What bird or other animal could 

 interfere with the lining i* I shot the male of the nest first mentioned, but I noticed 

 next day that the female had got another mate. I fancy there is something 

 anomalous about the pairing and breeding of the chaffinch. Perhaps Linneus 

 observed some peculiarity beyond the separation of the sexes in winter, which 



* In Norway it breeds on the uplands further to the southward, lat. 58° N. or 

 thereabouts (Wallengren, op. cit. 1855, p. 136). In Scania alone of all Norway and 

 Sweden was formerly found the red hare of Europe (Lepus europceus. Pall. ; L. timidus, 

 auctt. — nee Linn.) ; further north the blue or white hare {L. timidus, Linn. ; L. alpinus, 

 auclt.) only occurs. 



