Genus ACANTHI8 Beciistein. 



ACANTHIS HORNEMANNII EXILIPES (Coues). 



•21(1 Hoary Redpoll. (527«) 



Colors pale, the flaxen of liiiaria bleaching to whitish ; ninip, white or 

 rosy, entirely unstreaked in the adults ; breast, pale rosy, and sti-eaks on the 

 sides small and sparse ; bill, very small with heavy phiniiiles ; feet, small, the 

 middle toe and claw hardly equal to the tarsus. Length, a.oO ; extent, 9 ; 

 wing, 3 ; tail, 2.50. 



Hab. — Arctic America and North-eastern Asia. 



Nest, somewhat bixlky for the size of the bird, built of small twigs and grass, 

 lined with fine grass and feathers. 



Eggs, two to five, pale bluish-green, speckled toward the largei- end witii 

 reddish -lirown. 



So few Redpolls are taken from the vast flocks which in some 

 winters visit us from the north, that it is unsafe to say how rare or 

 common any particular species may be. I have, however, ol)served a 

 good many in different winters during the last thirty years, and 

 have only seen one of this species. It was killed by K. C. Mcllwraith 

 at Hamilton Beach, on the 6th of April, 1885, and on being picked 

 up at once elicited the exclamations which follow the capture of a 

 rare bird. It was a male in fine plumage, the feathers being full 

 and soft, and beautifully tinted witli the rosy color peculiai' to the 

 race. 



Tins sj)ecies is said to iidialtit tlic wliole of Ixn-eal America, ])ul 



