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The Common Linnet ( Linota cannabina). 
Common throughout the district. “ In some parts of Ayrshire 
linnets are gregarious to some extent, even in the breeding season, 
both on the sea-sliore and in the pebbly beds of rivers and smaller 
streams, which they frequent at certain hours, coming and going 
together in flocks with apparent regularity.” See “ Birds of the 
West of Scotland.” 
The Mealy Redpole (. Linota canescens). 
This species, occurring, as it does, frequently in Kirkcudbright¬ 
shire, may also occur in our district in some numbers. At present, 
however, we can only record with certainty a single example: it 
was shot at Caperton, near Kilmarnock, in April, 1864, and is 
now in the possession of Mr Eaton, bird preserver. We may 
state that, in the same year, many specimens were taken in the 
south of Scotland. 
The Lesser Redpole (Linota linaria). 
This interesting and familiar bird is sparingly distributed in 
localities suited to its habits. It breeds in both counties, and in 
Renfrewshire and Dumfriesshire. The habits of the lesser redpole 
may be easily studied, as it is exceedingly tame, and heedless of 
observation. 
The Mountain Linnet, or Twite (Linota montium). 
This, the “heather lintie” of most rural districts, is generally 
distributed, frequenting chiefly the higher grounds beyond the 
limits of high cultivation. It is a much more plentiful species in 
the western counties than those of the east of Scotland. Mr Gray 
has given an account of its habits, as observed by himself in the 
Outer Hebrides, where it is extremely numerous. See “ Birds of 
the West of Scotland.” 
The Bullfinch (Pyrrhula vulgaris). 
Is found in considerable numbers throughout Ayrshire. It is 
nowhere more plentiful than in some of the glens within a few 
miles of Girvan, where groups of five or six may be heard piping 
from the alder thickets after the young are fledged. We have 
observed it to be particularly common on the farm of Drummuck, 
