362 Mr. W. E. Brooks on the Genus Acanthis. 



Redpoll, it possesses a notable character of its own in its 

 most uu-redpoU-like bill. On the whole, I do not know of 

 any species more satisfactory. 



I have an observation or two to make on the *' species '"* 

 Acanthis holboelli, Brehm. I have examined five examples, 

 two o£ them being European. Wings 3*10 to 2*80. The 

 coloration is that of A. linaria, with streaking perhaps not 

 quite as bold, but the bill is long and almost Goldfinch-like. 

 But for the extra long bill it could not be separated from A. 

 linaria. I have had many more than one hundred A. linaria 

 through my hands, obtained here and elsewhere, and in no 

 instance have I been able to match the long bill of typical 

 A. holboelli. In one European example, from point of bill to 

 back of skull is 1"15, another I'lO, of a third 1'12, and of 

 a fourth I'lO. This measurement is in average A. linaria 

 (male) about 100. To me it is not a tlioro uglily satisfactory 

 species, like the others, but at present its long bill is not 

 easily accounted for. I am not partial to the trinomial 

 system, but for convenience' sake this bird might stand 

 as Acanthis linaria holboelli. It is a variation not yet 

 thoroughly worked out. 



Another form Dr. Stejneger treats of in his excellent mono- 

 graph in ' The Auk ' above referred to is Acanthis linaria 

 pallescens, Homeyer. This is, I think, only a variation of the 

 ordinary A. linaria. I examined Dr. Stejneger's Norwegian 

 example. Like others I have obtained here, it is extra mealy- 

 looking. Some examples of ^. linaria appear quickly to lose 

 all fulvous tone after the autumnal moult, if they had it then, 

 and the two prevailing colours left are dark brownish grey 

 and white. This loss of colour may be due to weakness or 

 some other cause, but it is certainly not specific, and I should 

 say one or more might be found in every spring flock of 

 A. linaria. 



I would abandon this form altogethei', not allowing it even 

 the use of a trinomial. 



AVe have, then, five very well-marked species of Acatithis, 

 viz. A. hornemanni, A. exilipes, A. rostrata, A. linaria, and 

 A, rvfescens: also one doubtful bird, A. linaria holboelli. 



