REDPOLES. 117 



PRINGILLA HORNEMANNI. 



Gebenland Redpolb. 

 Linota homemanni, Holb. Naturh. Tidsk. iv, p. 398 (1843). 



The Lesser Redpole breeds more or less commonly in all the counties 

 of England north of Norfolk and Leicester. South of this boundary- 

 it is not so common in summer, but, nevertheless, has been found 

 breeding in the greater number of counties east of Somerset. In Scot- 

 land its distribution appears to be regulated by the presence of woods 

 and thickets, especially birch-plantations ; and Mr. Gray has never been 

 able to trace it where such shelter is absent. It is a visitor to lona and 

 Islay, and Dixon met with it in Skye. It also visits the Orkneys on 

 migration in considerable flocks. In Ireland it is as common as in the 

 rest of the British Islands, but is most numerous in the north. 



The only known instance of the Lesser Redpole breeding out of the 

 British Islands is that recorded by Professor Gigioli (' Ibis,' 1881, p. 204), 

 who obtained a nest from the Veglio Alps in Italy, about 7000 feet above 

 the sea-level. In winter it has been obtained in France, Spain, Italy, and 

 Western Germany, and passes through Belgium and Holland on migra- 

 tion. 



The Mealy Redpole is an irregular winter visitor to our islands, chiefly 

 to the northern portions. It is of less frequent occurrence in the eastern 

 and south-eastern counties, and does not appear to have occurred west of 

 Sussex. In Scotland it is chiefly met with in the east, and rarely in the 

 south-western districts ; it is, . however, a regular winter visitor to the 

 Orkneys. 



The Mealy Redpole is a circumpolar bird, breeding at or near the limit 

 of forest-growth, and possibly in some of the alpine districts of central 

 Europe. In winter it is found in various localities throughout the whole of 

 Central and Southern Europe. Eastwards it wanders as far as Turkestan, 

 South Siberia, North China, and Japan. On the American continent 

 it winters in South Canada and the Northern States. 



The Greenland Redpole has only once been obtained in our islands. An 

 example was knocked down on the 34th of April, 1855, on the sea-banks 

 near Whitburn, where it had been observed for several days previous to its 

 capture. This specimen is in Mr. Hancock-'s collection, and is figured 

 in his ' Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham ' (p. 54, 



pi. 5). 



The Greenland Redpole breeds in Greenland, Iceland, and Spitzbergen, 

 where it is said to be resident ; but Mr. Brooks informs me that it appears 

 in winter in Canada ; and, in addition to the specimen captured in England. 



