Perching Birds. 



15 



The Meai-v Redpoli,. 



The Lesser Redpoll. 



winter a large southward 

 migration takes place, but 

 the species does not seem to 

 reach the countries of the 

 Mediterranean basin. 



In its wa_vs the Lesser 

 Redpoll, whether free or in 

 captivity, is a most engaging 

 little bird, and in confine- 

 ment it makes the tamest of 

 pets and can be taught to do 

 a number of tricks. It will 

 even nest in an aviary, a pair 

 which Mr. Lort Phillips took to Norway this 3-ear (18971 building their nest in a 

 pine branch placed in a cage on his verandah, and rearing four young. In the winter 

 in the Thames Valle_y the Lesser Redpoll frequents the alders in company with the 

 .■-liskins, and is very similar to these birds in its habits, collecting in flocks or small 

 parties and feeding on the seeds of the birch and alder. The call-note is also '■eaglet,' 

 like that of the Siskin and Twite. The nest is a compact little cup-shaped structure of 

 moss and grass-stems, lined with hair and vegetable down and a few feathers. 



The Mealy Redpoll {Cannabina linaria). A larger bird than the 

 Lesser Redpoll, and easily told b_v its white rump, which is streaked with 

 dark brown ; the bill and feet are also much stouter than in the Lesser Redpoll. It is a 

 winter visitor to the British Islands, arriving in some numbers on our eastern and 

 north-eastern coasts. Its breedmg-range extends across Northern Europe and Siberia, 

 and in Norway I have found it breeding on the fjelds near the limit of the birch-growth, 

 at a height of about 3500 feet, but the nesting-habits certainly vary according to ihe 

 season, as in i8g6 scarcely a Mealy Redpoll was noticed during the whole summer 

 until the end of July, when the sorrel and plantain seeds were ripe, and then numbers of 

 the birds descended from thehigher mountains and frequented the meadowsof the up,ier 



valleys. In the present year ( 1S97), on the 

 contrary, the species was quite common all 

 over the birch-region and bred in the neigh- 

 bourhood of every saeter. I'he nests were 

 only discovered when the young were far 

 advanced, and this may account for their 

 very untidy and slovenly appearance, for 

 the\' by no means recalled the pretty little 

 nests of the ordinary Redpoll. The eggs 

 are five or six in number, and resemble 

 those of the Linnet, but are much 

 HoLiiOELi. s Redpoll. smaller. 



