MEALY REDPOLL. 
LIN OTA LIN ART A. 
Though several stragglers of the Mealy Redpoll have been observed in the east of Norfolk late in spring, 
I can learn of no well-authenticated instance of this species remaining to breed in Great Britain. The 
end of the first week in October is the earliest date at which I met with this Redpoll; and, according to 
my own experience, the majority have taken their departure early in March. Though a close look-out 
for the species was invariably kept in the Northern Highlands (where I was under the impression, from 
information received, that it might possibly be discovered breeding), I have obtained a chance of studying 
its habits only in Norfolk and Sussex. 
The numbers that reach our shores during autumn vary considerably, flights of hundreds being noticed 
one season, while scarcely a bird will make its appearance the following year. Large flocks were scattered 
over the greater portion of the east of Norfolk towards the latter end of 1873, and again in 1881 I 
noticed a succession of small parties among the alder bushes round Ilickling Broad; here they were to 
be seen almost daily from early in November till the end of January 1882. A few specimens exhibiting 
rosy breasts were obtained on November 19th and again on January 6th ; their tints, however, were far from 
bright. I remarked that but few males showing the slightest signs of colouring on the breast could be 
detected in the large bodies that arrived in 1873. On this occasion, in order to ascertain their numbers, 
I made use of three or four call-birds placed in cages among the large alders on the banks of the lleigham 
River, near Norwich, and during the morning of December 2nd many hundreds of this species as well as 
of the Lesser must have been attracted to the spot. 
By far the finest males that have come under my observation were seen feeding on a thistle-head 
blown on to our lawn, near Brighton, on October 19th, 1875. A strong gale from the south-west was in 
full force at the time, and the tiny strangers were carried away with a terrific blast before I had time 
to obtain a specimen. Even in the plates of the various coloured works on ornithology, I have never 
seen anything approaching the rich carmine tint exhibited on the breast and head by these two birds. 
The Mealy Redpoll appears to become speedily reconciled to confinement, and thrives well in captivity. 
Two of the males procured in Norfolk in December 1873, to act as call-birds, proved after a few weeks 
exceedingly tame. For a couple of years they lived contentedly together in a roomy cage, when early 
in 1876 a female of the Lesser Redpoll, which flew in at the window, was added. Early in June, as 
several eggs were found at the bottom of the cage, a small box with a nest and other materials was 
placed inside. A fresh nest was soon constructed and shortly after five eggs were laid. After sitting 
thirteen or fourteen days three young hatched out, all of which were successfully reared. One, however, 
when a couple of months old, was accidentally killed, the others living to the age of about six years. 
In size these birds were between the Lesser and Mealy Redpoll, the general colouring of the plumage 
being somewhat paler than is usually seen in either ; their heads exhibited a well-defined patch of bright 
yellow, and the same was suffused strongly over the breasts. 
