THE LESSER RED POLE 231 



especially elms where the foliage grows close to the 

 thick limbs. Although the nest of this Redpole 

 varies a good deal in beauty, some being much 

 more exquisitely built than others, there is a 

 charm about them all which brings this species into 

 the very front rank of avine architects. Externally 

 this nest is made of slender twigs, roots, moss and 

 dry grass ; whilst the lining consists of feathers, 

 vegetable down, hair, and wool. The cup is very 

 small and deep and round, yet finished in a remark- 

 ably neat manner. The eo^gs are from four to 

 six in number, greenish-blue in ground-colour, 

 spotted and speckled with purplish-brown and grey, 

 and sometimes streaked with darker brown. Some- 

 times the colouring matter is distributed in a clouded 

 or washed manner, with a few darker markings here 

 and there. Durinof the entire breedinof season 

 Redpoles are retiring in their habits, often nesting 

 in a much-frequented spot without discovery ; and it 

 is only when the branches are denuded of their 

 leaves in autumn that the long-deserted home is 

 seen. This Redpole generally rears one brood 

 only in the season. 



The food of the Lesser Redpole is largely com- 

 posed of the smaller seeds, but in summer insects 

 are also sought. The usual call-note of this bird 

 is a shrill twit rapidly repeated ; but the cry between 

 the sexes sounds like the word henri whistled softly. 



The adult male Lesser Redpole has the general 



