140 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



1889. A few Greenfinches accompanied the Linnets, but the 

 latter species enormously predominated. There must have been 

 several thousands of them. I never saw such a number together 

 before. 



MEALY EEDPOLL. 



Linota linaria (L. ). 



This Redpoll is rare in Lakeland. Indeed, I have never come 

 across it anywhere in England myself, but others have been more 

 fortunate. Mr. Holdsworth tells me that some few springs ago 

 he stumbled across a considerable flock of Mealy Redpolls near 

 Crummock Water, which permitted of a very close examination, 

 being devoid of fear. Mr. Holdsworth has such an excellent 

 knowledge of this finch, obtained during several visits to Norway, 

 that no one could be more competent to recognise the species. 

 Dr. Gough mentions, in his private notes, a Mealy Redpoll, 

 caught on Kendal Fell in November 1861, and still alive in his 

 possession in May of the ensuing year. He saw another at the 

 roadside near Scalthwaite in October 1862. The late B. Green- 

 well gave me a skin of this Redpoll, obtained out of a flock near 

 Alston. 



LESSER REDPOLL. 



Linota rufescens (Vieill.). 



In the neighbourhood of Morecambe this Redpoll is rather 

 uncommon ; indeed, I only noticed its presence twice during a 

 whole week's hard work in the neighbourhood of Ulverston. 

 It becomes rather more numerous as you go inland. Mr. 

 Archibald showed me a lovely nest which he had taken in 

 the Rusland valley, from which the species extends up into 

 the heart of Lakeland as a breeding bird. Dr. Gough obtained 

 young Redpolls from the neighbourhood of Kendal in 1864, and 

 again in 1866. Mr. G. A. Hutchinson has eggs from Stainton, 

 Lupton, Hay Fell. I found it breeding near Windermere in July 



1890, but failed to observe its presence at Tebay or at Carnforth. 

 In the Appleby district it seems to be scarce, but I found it 

 breeding at Dufton, Millburn, Newbiggin. On our eastern fells 

 it is a scarce bird, but a pair nested at Renwick in 1887; 



