and Kerry for instance, it seems to have been only observed
as a winter-visitor. Yet it is presumed to bave bred on the
Blackwater in Waterford, and is known to have done so in
Tipperary, about Clonmel.
According to the best authorities the Lesser Redpoll is in
some years abundant at the time of migration in Holland
and Belgium, and it has long been known in France as a
regular winter;visitant. It is of nearly annual occurrence,
says M. Lacroix, on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees,
and in some years reaches Southern Spain as well as Provence.
Its breeding in France is denied, but is asserted by
Bailly with regard to the Alps of Savoy. Dr. Salvadori,
however, considers its appearance in Italy to be very doubtful.
That it should occur at least accidentally in Western
Germany seems highly probable, but the Editor cannot find
positive proof of the fact, and in the recorded cases of its occurrence
in that country we may suspect that young examples of
the Mealy Redpoll have been mistaken for it. It is certainly
unknown throughout Scandinavia. Its geographical range
thus seems to be extremely limited*, and, with the asserted
exception above mentioned, its area of distribution during the
breeding-season appears to be confined to the British Islands.
If this be so some explanation is afforded of the difficulty
which many foreign naturalists have found in admitting the
distinctness of the present form of Redpoll, since few of them
probably have had the opportunity of examining a series of
specimens of the true Linota rufescens.
Regard being had to the necessary effect of its restricted
range, as just indicated, the habits of the Lesser Redpoll so
closely resemble those of the Mealy Redpoll that the account
of them already given would almost as well apply to the
present bird. Yet in a few points some slight differences
may be noticed. The Lesser Redpoll, though very partial
* Its supposed occurrence in Northern Russia has been shewn in a previous
note (p. 140) to be erroneous. Drake (Ibis, 1867, p. 427) included this bird
among those he saw in Morocco, and MM. Jaubert and Barthelemy-Lapommeraye
say that it sometimes visits Algeria in winter, but some further evidence is needed
before the belief that it goes so far to the southward can be accepted.
to holts of alders, birches and willows, is not at all exclusive
in its choice of them for its breeding-quarters, and, besides
selecting coppice or underwood, will quickly avail itself of
the accommodation offered by young plantations of larches,
firs or trees of almost any kind, as well as of shrubberies.
Some shelter however is always needed, and Mr. Gray says
that among the Hebrides he has been unable to trace it
where such is absent. From Saxby’s silence on the subject
it would seem not to breed in Shetland-possibly from the
same cause. The vicinity of water is generally preferred,
but its actual proximity is not absolutely essential, and the
distance of a mile or so from where it can be procured is no
bar to an otherwise eligible situation*. Such a spot is often
frequented by several or many pairs of these birds, which
will have their nests within the compass of a few yards, and
in that case the actions of the birds soon make the existence
of the settlement evident to an ordinary observer. But they
are by no means always gregarious even to this extent, and
single pairs may be found taking up their abode apart,
while again considerable numbers will often meet at places
far from their nests, apparently prompted only by their
social instincts—for they do not seem to be m search ot
food, and, after passing half-an-hour or more m company,
will separate and go their respective ways; The nest is
usually built in a low tree or bush, but occasionally at a very
considerable height, and on the other hand an humble site
amongiieather may be chosen. It is nearly always a structure
of the most delicate beauty, formed outwardly of a few fine
twigs as a foundation, on which are placed dry grass-stems,
sometimes intermixed with moss and wool, the thinner stalks
being innermost, and is lined with vegetable-down that from
the catkins of the willow being most often used, with the
addition or substitution sometimes of hair and feathers.
The whole nest is about an inch and a half in diame ei an
* In a district very ill-supplied with water where
sionally bred in abundance, the Editor bas f ^ t w ^ g ^ a p o ^ d e o