LESSER RED-POLL. 513 



ward to the very city of New York, where, in the 

 depth of winter, and for several weeks, they have been 

 seen gleaning their scanty food, of various kinds of 

 seeds, in the gardens of the town and suburbs. Flocks 

 are likewise sometimes seen in the vicinity of Philadel- 

 phia in severe winters, though at remote periods, as, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Ord, they have not visited that part 

 of Pennsylvania since the winter of 1813-14. They 

 appear very unsuspicious while feeding in the gardens, 

 or on the seeds of the alder-bush, one of their favorite 

 repasts, and, thus engaged, allow a near approach while 

 searching for their food in every posture, and some- 

 times head downwards. They are also fond of the 

 seeds of the pine, the linden, and rape, and in the 

 winter sometimes content themselves even with the buds 

 of the alder. According to Mr. CEdman, about Michael- 

 mas, they migrate from Sweden in flocks of more than 

 200 individuals, which are found all to be males. Wil- 

 son believed he heard this species utter a few interrupted 

 notes, but nothing satisfactory is known of its vocal pow- 

 ers. Mr. Ord remarks that their call much resembles 

 that of the Common Yellow-Bird, to which, indeed, they 

 are allied. They are said to breed in the Highlands of 

 Scotland, and to select the heath and furze for the situ- 

 ation of their nests ; though they more commonly choose 

 alder-bushes and the branches of the pine. The nest, 

 almost like that of the Yellow-Bird, is composed of stalks 

 of dried grass, intermixed with tufts of wool, and warmly 

 lined with hair and feathers. The eggs, about 5, are of 

 a bluish-white, varied with numerous reddish spots 

 disposed at the larger end. A nest, on an alder stump, 

 has been found in the South of England, according to 

 Latham, on which the bird sat with so much tenacity as 

 to suffer herself to be taken off by the hand, and when 

 released would not forsake it. 



