LESSER REDPOLL. 
FRINGILLA RUFESCENS (Vieill.). 
Linaria rufescens, Vieill. Mem. R. Ac. Se. Tor. xxiii. p. 202 
(1816). 
Linaria minor, Macq. 1. p. 383. 
Fringilla linaria, Hewitson, 1. p. 201. 
Linota rufescens, Yarr. ed. 4, 1. p. 146; Dresser, iv. p. 47. 
Sizerin cabaret, French; Kleiner Flachs-fink, German ; 
Volicelo, Spanish. 
This well-known bird, although it breeds more or less 
commonly and regularly in many, if not most, of our 
English counties, as well as in Ireland and Scotland, is, 
I think, generally looked upon as an autumnal visitor in 
Central and Southern England, from the fact that at the 
commencement of autumn it congregates in large flocks, 
whose wavering flight, incessant twittermg notes and 
habit of clustermg upon alders and birches in the same 
fashion as the Siskin, can hardly escape the attention of 
many who would perhaps hardly notice any small bird 
that occurred singly or in pairs. I have never had the 
good fortune to find a “wld” nest of this bird, whose 
choice of nesting-sites seems to be very promiscuous. 
The Lesser Redpoll breeds freely in captivity, and we 
have had several nests in the aviaries at Lilford; but for _ 
some unknown reason, hardly any young birds have been 
reared therein by their parents. 
