226 BRITISH BIEDS' XEST8. 



Time. — May and June. 



Bemarls. — Eesident, but wandering, except 

 during the breeding season. Notes, a kind of 

 grunting noise when disturbed. Local and other 

 names : Black-billed Auk, Marrot, Murre, Razorbill 

 Auk, Sea Crow, Bawkie, Alk or Oke, Falk ; in 

 Zetland, Hiogga. Gregarious, and a close sitter. 



REDBREAST. See Robin, 



REDPOLL, LESSER. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about four 

 and a quarter inches. Bill short, nearly conical, 

 thick at the base, and brownish horn colour. Irides 

 dusky brown. Crown, to beyond the line of the 

 eyes, crimson red ; sides of head brown. Hinder 

 part of crown, nape, back, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts dark brown, the feathers being bordered 

 with light reddish- brown, slightly mixed with grey ; 

 tail-coverts tinged with crimson. Wings dusky, 

 the feathers being edged with pale brown ; the 

 middle and greater coverts are tipped with light 

 reddish-brown, making two rather showy bars across. 

 Tail slightly forked and dusky, edged outwardly 

 with pale brown. Chin black, throat and breast 

 rose-pink to vermilion ; the middle of the breast, 

 flanks, and under-parts light greyish. Sides streaked 

 with dull brown. Legs and toes darkish brown ; 

 claws nearly black. 



The female is a trifle smaller, and lacks the red 

 on her breast and upper tail-coverts. Chin brownish- 

 black ; under-parts brownish-white, streaked with 

 dark brown on the breast, sides, and flanks. 



