The European Linnet in Westchester County, N. Y. — Several years 
ago — in the late autumn or early winter of 1 S 94 — I secured an adult female 
European Linnet ( Acanthis cannabina), at Scarboro’, N. Y., two miles 
south of Sing Sing. The bird was shot from the top of a maple tree, in a 
field about a mile east of the Hudson River. For several days previous 
to this I had frequently seen and heard in the region a small flock of very 
peculiar Linnets, which were undoubtedly of the same species, as I several 
times saw them at short range. There were about five in all, two or three 
being red-breasted, russet-backed males. They were most often seen 
alone, but not infrequently associated with flocks of American Goldfinches. 
As far as I remember, the female was, when shot, the only Linnet 
among several Goldfinches, and the other Linnets were not seen thereafter. 
The bird secured was in bright, unworn plumage, and this fact, combined 
with that of the presence of others of the species, makes it unlikely that 
it was an escaped cage-bird. It was identified by Dr. Allen and Mr. 
Chapman, and is preserved in my father’s collection. 
So far as I know, this species has not been introduced into this country, 
though it is always possible for such birds to fly aboard trans Atlantic 
liners at sea, and stay with them to the end of the voyage. It is probably 
by this means that most of the stray European land birds get to Aiherica, 
and vice versa. 
Dr. Marcus S. Farr, of the New York State Museum, advises me to 
record this occurrence in ‘The Auk,’ even at this late date. — Gerald H. 
Thayer, Monadnock, N. H. Alik, 2CVII, Oct., 1000, 
