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THE GKEATEE REDPOLE.* 



The name of this bird is not ycry accurate ; for it is not the pole but the breast that is 

 red. These birds arc subject to considerable clianges of phimagc, not only in the sexes, 

 but in the male birds at diftereut seasons, -whicli have, of course, caused no little confusion 

 respecting them. In the breeding jjluniago, for example, the male bird is bright carmine 

 red on the breast, and pale brownish red on the flanks, in which state it is also called 

 the rose linnet. But iu the winter, the red nearly disappears, and the breast is reddish 

 brown, mottled with reddish while, and the flanks marked with large brown streaks. 



These birds hop on the ground ; they whirl about in masses, and perch on trees, and 

 though they have no song in the winter, they all chirp at the same time. "When the 

 weather begins to get warm, their short but pleasant song commences, before they retire 

 to the breeding grounds, or the plumage of the male changes ; and though their song is 

 not so full then as after they have bet;dcen themselves to the wilds, the crowds that arc 

 in song, on the same tree, make a lively concert. 



The singing of the males, while yet in the bro^\n plumage, and the fact that it is 

 difficult to have caged birds in any other, apj)ear to bo the chief causes of the confusion 

 that there is about the species. If the males are taken young, they moult into the 



winter plumage, and do not change it ; if 1' 



lev are 



taken in the flocking lime, Ihey 



retain the brown j)lumago in their moults ; and il' lliey ar(^ captured in the sumnu'i-, 

 which, from the wildncss of their haunts and the wild habils of the birds, is not a very 

 common case, they lose the red on the first moult, and never regain it afterwards. 



THE m:ssiok KKi)roLi;.t 



This species is very generally diffused throughout Juirope, but (he northern parts seem 

 to be its native regions. It is not uneouinion in the soufliein c(unitics of England 

 during the winter months ; at this season it is gregarious, and nundjcrs are frequently 

 taken about London and other parts by birdcatchers. 



" It is a bird,'' says JJechstcin, " more pleasing to the eye than the car; its warble 

 being feeble and weak, and consi-sting of a continued chinking note. It is impo.ssiblc (o 

 see without pleasure the afl'cction which seems to exist between the male and female of 

 this species, who fondle and cai'css each otlier witliout ceasing. Tlicy will do the same 

 even willi llie gojillimh, linnet, imhI canary, willi any df wliicli il will readily j)air." 



• Fringilla Cannabiiia. 



t I'riiigilla Fliivirostris.— Linn. 



