THE LESSER REDPOLE. 



LINOTA LINARIA. 



Forehead, throat, and lore black ; crown deep crimson ; under parts light crim- 

 son tinged with buff, fading towards the tail into white ; upper parts reddish 

 brown, with dusky streaks ; wings and tail dusky, edged with pale reddish 

 brown. Female— all the colours less bright. Length five and a quarter inches. 

 Eggs bluish white, speckled at the larger end with reddish brown. 



The Lesser Redpole so closely resembles the Siskin in its 

 habits and temperament, that a description of either of 

 these birds would serve well for the other. Like that 

 bird it congregates in small flocks ; it frequents damp 

 valleys where alder-trees abound ; it feeds on the seeds of 

 the same trees ; like it, hangs at the extremities of the 

 twigs to explore the catkins, twitters merrily as it flies, and 

 is quite as easily reconciJed to captivity. But for the 



