592 



APPENDIX. 



LESSER REDPOLL. 



(Fringilla linaria, Linn. Nutt. Man. Orn. i. p. 512. Linaria minor, 

 Ray. Rich, and Swains, ii. p. 267. Lesser Redpoll, Penn. Arct. 

 Zool. ii. p. 379. No. 2C2. Arctic Finch, Idem. p. 379. A. [young.] 

 Le Sizerin, Buff. Ois. iv. p. 216. Id. PI. Enlum. 151, 2.) 



According to Richardson, this is one among the few 

 hardy and permanent residents in the fur countries, where it 

 may be seen in the coldest weather, on the banks of lakes and 

 rivers, hopping among the reeds and carices, or clinging to 

 their stalks. They are numerous throughout the year, even 

 in the most northern districts, and from the rarity of their 

 migrations into the United States, it is obvious that they are 

 influenced by no ordinary causes to evacuate the regions in 

 which they are bred. Famine in all probability, or the 

 scarcity of food urges them to advance towards the south. 

 It is certain that they do not forsake their natal regions to 

 seek shelter from the cold. This season, by the 7th or 8th 

 of November (1833,) before the occurrence of any extraor- 

 dinary cold weather, they arrived in this vicinity (Cambridge, 

 Mass.) in considerable flocks, and have not paid a visit to 

 this quarter before, to my knowledge, for 10 or 12 years. 

 They now regularly assemble in the birch trees every morn- 

 ing to feed on their seeds, in which employment they are 

 so intent, that it is possible to advance to the slender trees in 

 which they are engaged, and shake them ofl" by surprise 

 before they think of taking wing. They hang upon the 

 twigs with great tenacity, and move about while feeding 

 in reversed postures like the Chickadees. After being shot 

 at, they only pass on to the next tree and resume their feed- 

 ing as before. They have a quailing call perfectly similar 

 with that of the Yellow-Bird (Fringilla tristis), twee twee, 

 or tshe-vee; and when crowding together in flight, make a 

 confused chirping 'twit Htwit Hivit 'twit 'twit, with a rattling 



