BIRDS. 



121 



and neglected holdings in the Carses ; and where suitable patches 

 occur even among the sand-hills of Tents Muir, etc. 



Perhaps nowhere have I met with them so abundant, i.e. within this 

 area, as along the roadside among broom and gorse between Forfar 

 and Arbroath, growing on gravelly banks. And Mr. M'Connochie 

 remarks also upon their abundance in the same neighbourhood. 



Linota linaria (L.). Mealy Redpoll. 



Horn's record, quoting New Statistical Account, can hardly stand un- 

 supported, but it is now so far supported by the actual record of its 

 occurrence on Tents Muir, as recorded by Mr. William Berry {vide 

 Laidlaw in his "Movements of Birds," Annals Scot. Nat. Hist., 1899, 

 p. 150). I have not seen this specimen, but I would naturally expect 

 that it would be true linaria from North Europe, and not of Western 

 or Greenland origin. 



Linota rufescens (FieilJ.). Lesser Redpoll. 



Resident. Fairly abundant locally. Breeds. 



Xests er\'erv year around Methven (auct. Mr. P. D. Malloch). 

 Occurs about Pitlochry and Killin (Horn), 1879. 



In the north-east occurs as a nesting species about the Knock Hill 

 of Fordoun (J. Milne, 1896). 



In the south it is abundant at Bridge of Earn in August and 

 September in 1902, as observed by Mr. Xorman B. Kinnear. 



In the south-west it is one of the commonest birds about the 

 head of Loch Earn, through all the woods from the watershed at 

 Balquhidder, to the head of the alder swamps in Glen Ogle, and 

 especially abundant at Lochearnhead, as has been repeatedly noted 

 by Mr. Godfrey. 



Similarly Mr. W. Evans found it far inland up the Tay valley in 

 April and May, and at Loch Tay at Fearnan, and in flocks of fifty or 

 so in August close to Killin. 



In the parish of Guthrie it seems to appear mostly in winter. 

 Mr. M'Connochie thinks a few pairs may breed there, as birds are 

 seen to frequent one or two places in the nesting season. 



Mr. Berwick does not regard it as a common species around his 

 district — Monimail, Fife. 



Linota flavirostris (L.). Twite. 

 Resident. Common. Breeds. 



Col. Drummond Hay says he has only met with it in the Carse of 

 Gowrie in autumn and winter. He does not appear to have met 



