82 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
William Jardine's time. In many places, where formerly 
common, it has disappeared, but qmte -T^j^ ^^^^^ 
extension in its breeding-area seems to have been noticed 
Snets would appear to be almost confined m spnng to 
the Tow r arable 'Itricts. In autumn they gather xnto 
flocks and frequent the stubbles and low-lymg fields. At 
Jh? elson their numbers are increased by an immigration 
Sm the north and east, and these flocks are found more 
IXally distributed, and "higher out ' than are our 
Snnetfin the sprmg ; but in -ep^on^ty har^ 
the whole Linnet population moves farther south till the 
return of the nesting-season. 
. Se first three local names are of course derived from 
the apSarance of the cock bird in breedmg-plumage, 
Ihen he has the forehead, crown and breast crimson ; 
Ind it may be well to note that on this account the species 
"sometimes called the "Redpoll," which -ust not lea^ ^^^^ 
confusion with either the Lesser or the Mealy Redpoll 
—the next species to be dealt with. 
THE MEALY REDPOLL. Linota Unaria (Linnaeus). 
A icarce irregular winter-visitor. 
Sir Wilham Jardine in 1832, writing of the birds of the 
parirof Applegarth and Sibbaldbie, says of this species 
" The northern Linnet has been seen only once or twice, it 
and sent to the Glasgow bird-market, t ^^^^^ 
Solway area Mr. R. Service states: We bad them m 
1879 aeain in 1895, and none afterwards occurred tUl the 
Sr oTl900.''t " Mabie Moss " records that in March, 
* New Stat. Acct. Scot., Vol. IV., p. 180. 
t Birds of West Scotland, 1871, pp. U8, 149. 
t Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc, April 20th, 1905. 
