Fringilla linaria, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 87.
Linaria borealis, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxxi. p. 341.
.. — Holbcelli, Brehm, Vög. Deutschl., p. 280 ?
Passer linaria, Pall. Zoog. Ross.-Asiat., tom. ii. p. 25 ?
Linaria minor, Leach, Syst. Cat. of Spec, of Mamm. and Birds in Brit. Mus., p. 75.
Fringilla linaria borealis, Jenyns, Man. Brit. Vert. Anim., p. 139.
-----------borealis, Temm. Man. d’Orn., 2nd edit. tom. iii. p. 264.
Linaria canescens, Gould, Birds of Eur., vol. iii. pi. 193.
Linota canescens, Yarr. Hist, of Brit. Birds, edit, of 1838, vol. i. p. 508.
Fringilla (Acanthis) borealis, Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Eur., p. xli..
canescens (partim), Schleg. Rev. Crit. des Ois. d’Eur., p. lxiii.
Acanthis linaria, Bonap. et Schleg. Monog. des Loxiens, pi. 52.
-------- - holboelli, Bonap. et Schleg. ib., pi. 53 ?
JEgiotkus limrius, Cab. Mus.‘ Hein., Theil i. p. 161.
Fringillla (Acanthis) linaria, Middend. Sib. Reise, tom. ü. pi. 11, p. 150.
JEgiothus linaria, Baird, Pacific Railr. Rep., Birds, p. 428.
,u many years after ornithology had become a science, two British birds of this form were confounded
,der one name; and I regret to say that a mass of confusion exists with regard to their true synonymy,
lich I fear it will scarcely be possible to unravel; indeed I know not how it can he satisfactorily effected
thout an examination of the type specimens to which the various appellations were applied—a measure
,w hardly possible. We may, however, arrive at one certain conclusion—namely, that the species to whic
innteus applied the name Fringilla linaria was one commonly found in Sweden; and as the M g W M
hid. fulfils this condition is the present, we may safely infer that it is the bird he described by that
»nellation. . , , , .
Although the Mealy Redpole is occasionally very numerous in our islands, it must be regarded as but a
icidental winter visitor. The bird-catchers, who are generally excellent observers after their own way, will
1 you that this season the Mealy or Stone Bedpole is more numerous than the common or lesser species,
,d that their takes of this bird have consequently been g r e a t- a fact which may be confirmed or refuted
, a visit to that great emporium of living birds, the Dials; or they may tell you that no S one Redpoles
SVC been seen either in this or the last year, or that for several seasons they have not seen a bird.
■■ The Mealy Redpole,” says Mr. Stevenson in his ■ Birds of Norfolk,' | can scarcely be called an annual
inter visitant; although fiocks of more or less extent may be met with in several consecutive seasons | but
ow and then, from some cause not easily explainable, their total absence is remarked upon by our bird-
atcbers and, as I have frequently experienced when most wanting a specimen to supply some loss m my
Viarv not a bird has been netted the whole winter through. Their numbers and appearance also cannot
brays' be accounted for by the severity of the weather, in this country at least, either at the time of, or
ubseqnent to, their arrival on our coasts. In 1847 and 1855, the latter a very sharp winter, they were
xtreinely plentiful; and in 1861, from the middle of October to the close of the year, probably the largest
locks ever noticed in this district, were distributed throughout the country. Hundreds of them were netted
,V the bird-catchers, being far more plentiful than the lesser species, and many still retained the neb flame-
■ f l of f e breeding-season. Yet the weather throng.,out this period « s not unusually severe
1 in the previous winter of 1860-61, hardly a bird was taken, though remarkable for its intense frosts ,
md ¡wain in 1863 and 1864 they were equally scarce, with an almost equal degree ot cold.
W M K m that the nest of this species has ever been found in Norfolk; ut ||g g |3
,as recorded the occurrence of a male specimen, in full breedmg-plumage, at Riddleswor h in July 1848
— doubt had bred there;' I was also assured by one of our Norwich bird-eatcherMh t
n the spring of 1862, after the large inflnx of the previous autumn, he observed a flock of twenty or thir y
,s late as the middle of April. Both the Mealy and Lesser Redpoles, from their tameness and engagi g
ictions, are most desirable additions to the cage or aviary, hut from their happy contented
liable to grow too fat, and, like Ortolans, when overfed, drop off the perch . . . fit of apoplexy. Mr. Charles
Barnard, of this city, bad a brood of young Mealy Redpoles hatched off in Ins aviary at Stoke, in July
—a verv uncommon circumstance with this species.