MEALY KEDPOLE.
STONY REDPOLE. LESSEE REDPOLE, LESSEE REDPOLE LINNET.
Linaria canesctm,
Linaria bonalts,
Linaria minor,
Fringilla borealis,
GOULD,
SELBT.
SELBI .
TEMMINCK.
Linaria. Linum—Flax. C&uttttu—Inclining to hoary colour.
THERE have been doubts entertained as to the specific distinction of
the present bird, but its individuality would seem to be established,
and I 'tell the tale as it was told to me.*
It appears to occur both on the continents of Europe and America,
as also in Asia; in Japan, according to M. Temminck. It is an
inhabitant of Greenland.
In England it is in general only rarely met with, but great numbers
are said to have been taken in the neighbourhood of London about
the year 1827, and also in 1829. In Yorkshire one was obtained
near Sheffield, in the year 18o*9: in 1847 many were procured near
Ipswich, Suffolk; most of them being males. Mr. Henry Doubleday,
of Epping, has met with them at Colchester, and Mr. Pelerin at
Oundle. W, P. Cocks, Esq., mentions one specimen met with in
Cornwall, at lVnnaucc; another, since, a male, at Carwithenack. One
was also obtained near Saffron Walden, in May, 1886; others have
likewise been met with in different parts.
In Scotland, two specimens have been procured; one in the
neighbourhood of Bathgate, in the winter, and the other near Edinburgh.
It has also occurred in Caithness.
The occurrence of this species is most frequent in winter, and it
seems to be a migrant, perhaps only an occasional one, hither, the
arctic and more northern regions being its native home.
Its food is said to consist of the seeds of various forest trees.
'1 he egg is described by Meyer as being pale greenish blue, sprinkled