42 



twenty or thirty so late as the middle of April 1862 in the same county, and (Zool. s. s. p. 871) 

 a male netted near Norwich, May 25th, 1867. The only known instance of this bird's appear- 

 ance in Ireland has been kindly communicated by Mr. Harting, who received for identification 

 the remains of one shot by Mr. W. J. Haughton at Levitstown, near Athy, February 9th, 1876." 



In Greenland the present species is stated to be a migrant ; but it breeds in the southern 

 parts of the country. It does not, however, appear to be found in Iceland, being there replaced 

 by Linota hornemanni; and it is only a rare visitant to the Faeroes. Captain Feilden says that 

 in September 1861 Mr. Midler saw ten in his garden ; one was brought to Captain Feilden in 

 the island of Sandoe on the 23rd May, 1872 ; and another obtained about the same time near 

 Thorshavn was given to him. In Scandinavia the present species is common, breeding on the 

 elevated fells in the southern districts, or in the more northern districts, and never in the 

 lowlands of the southern portions of the country, which it visits during passage and in the 

 winter. Mr. Robert Collett informs me that in Norway it is a true alpine species, frequenting 

 the elevated fells, but never the valleys or lowlands in Southern Norway ; but in the north it 

 inhabits the birch-woods of Nordland and Finmark down to the sea-level. In the fall of the 

 year large flocks come down from the fells and wander about in the lowlands all through the 

 winter ; some, however, migrate further south, and return in March or April. In May all have 

 disappeared from their winter quarters. Professor Sundevall says that during the breeding- 

 season it is common in the northern districts of Sweden, migrating southwards in the autumn, 

 some remaining throughout the winter in the country, and others passing on to Continental 

 Europe. According to Magnus von Wright it is common in Finland on passage and during 

 winter in the southern districts, and at least as far north as Kuopio. In the northern portion 

 of the country from Kuopio upwards it is found breeding in considerable numbers. Throughout 

 Northern Russia it is very common up to the coasts of the Arctic Ocean. In the Archangel 

 Government it is very common; and Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie-Brown state (Ibis, 1876, 

 p. 116) that both the present species and Linota exilipes are "very abundant along the Petchora 

 valley. They remained in the town of Ust Zylma in flocks up to the second week in May, and 

 then dispersed to their breeding-quarters in the woods. The first eggs were found on the 10th 

 June; and the young of the latter species were seen in the nest on the 13th June. Both the 

 common and Mealy Redpolls are found as far north as Stanavoialachta." Mr. Sabanaeff informs 

 me that it breeds but rarely in the Jaroslaf and Moscow Governments and in Novgorod, but is 

 very common further north. During passage he met with it commonly in the Ural ; but it nests 

 only in the northern portion of that range. Throughout the whole of North Germany the 

 present species is a tolerably common winter visitant, appearing early in November and leaving 

 again in January or February. Bechstein says that some few remain to breed in Thuringia. 

 Professor Kjserbolling states that during passage it is often very numerous in Denmark ; and it 

 visits Belgium, Holland, and Northern France at the same season ; but its appearances are, 

 though not unfrequent, very irregular. Mr. Adrien Lacroix says that it occurs in the French 

 Pyrenees as a rare winter straggler at irregular intervals of one or two years, during severe 

 weather ; and the same may be said respecting its occurrence elsewhere in the south of France. 

 It is stated to have bred near the lake of Como ; but this statement may reasonably be doubted, 

 and Salvadori says that it does not pass beyond the middle of the peninsula of Italy, though 



