49 



be obtained there until a favourable change enables them to depart." In Ireland, Thompson 

 says, though probably resident everywhere, it is more plentiful in the north. It is stated to visit 

 Cork rarely in the winter, and is very rare in Kerry. It has been observed on the banks of the 

 Blackwater, in Waterford, late in May or early in June, and is presumed to breed there, as it 

 does about Clonmel. 



In Western continental Europe the present species is found here and there not unfre- 

 quently, and is in some seasons numerous on passage in Belgium and Holland. In France it is 

 a regular winter visitant ; but it does not appear to breed there. M. Adrien Lacroix states that 

 it is met with every season on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, and in some years reaches 

 Southern Spain and Provence; and Colonel Irby writes (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 121), that on the 

 Spanish side of the Straits of Gibraltar it can only be considered a very rare and irregular winter 

 visitant. Bailly asserts that it breeds in the Alps of Savoy ; but Salvadori considers its occurrence 

 in Italy very doubtful. It may, and possibly does, occur in "Western Germany ; but, in spite 

 of every endeavour, I have not succeeded in obtaining a specimen from there, and am almost 

 inclined to doubt if it has been procured in that country, and agree with Professor Newton 

 in suspecting that young examples of one of the other forms have been mistaken for it. In 

 Scandinavia and Eastern Europe it is replaced by Linota linaria and IAnota exilipes; and it 

 appears very doubtful if it ever crosses the Mediterranean, though MM. Jaubert and Barthelemy 

 say that it sometimes visits Algeria ; but they do not give any authentic instance of its capture, 

 and Loche does not include it in his work on the avifauna of that country. Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt 

 Drake also states (Ibis, 1867, p. 427) that he saw one in Morocco ; but he was probably mistaken 

 in his identification of the bird seen by him. 



In general habits the present species is lively and gay ; and though a sprightly and restless 

 bird, it is exceedingly unsuspicious and confiding towards man. It is essentially a woodland 

 species, frequenting plantations, especially where the birch predominates, and bush-covered 

 localities ; but during the late summer season it may frequently be seen in the open country, 

 where plantations are not far distant, feeding on groundsel-seeds, or those of the thistle and 

 other allied plants, which it picks out whilst clinging to the plant, in the same manner as the 

 Goldfinch. When the autumn draws on they collect in flocks, and many wander away from 

 their breeding-haunts southwards, frequenting wooded districts, hedgerows, &c, and remain 

 roving about until the return of spring. During the winter it may often be seen frequenting the 

 birch and alder trees, sometimes in company with other small birds, clinging to the ends of the 

 branches in all kinds of attitudes, like the Titmice and Golclcrests. When moving about they 

 keep up a continuous twittering, and appear to be incessantly fluttering from branch to branch 

 and tree to tree. So unsuspicious are they that not only can one shoot as many as one pleases, 

 but they may also be captured with limed rods without any difficulty. Early in the spring, or 

 even late in the winter, the song of the male may be heard ; and though not of a high quality, 

 yet the song of this bird is clear, rather loud than low, and agreeable. 



Not only is the Lesser Redpoll eminently gregarious during the autumn and winter, but 

 even during the breeding-season several pairs will construct their nests close together — though, 

 so far as I can ascertain, this is rather the exception than the rule, and may depend on the 

 locality being a favourite one. The place selected for nidification is where the shelter is good, 



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