MEALY REDPOLL. 137 



twenty or thirty so late as the middle of April 1862, in the 

 same county, and (Zool. s.s. p. 871) a male netted near 

 Norwich May 25th, 1867. The only known instance of this 

 bird's appearance in Ireland has been kindly communicated 

 by Mr. Harting, who received for identification the remains 

 of one shot by Mr. W. J. Haughton, at Levitstown near 

 Athy, February 9th, 1876. 



Excepting in such as naturally follow from its larger size * 

 and higher northern range the habits of this bird are exactly 

 those of the Lesser Redpoll. When it visits us in autumn 

 it resorts in flocks to the same kind of places, and iu the 

 actions of the two birds there is no difference perceptible — 

 both of them being constantly engaged like Siskins (with 

 which they often associate) in feeding on the alder, birch or 

 willow, flitting from the end of one. twig to that of another, 

 and clinging in any attitude to those which bear food, keeping 

 up nearly all the while an incessant and lively twittering. 

 By their call-notes however the two Redpolls may be readily 

 discriminated t- — that of the present being, as was long ago 

 noticed by Doubleday in a communication to this work, 

 sharper and almost exactly resembling a Canary-bird's. The 

 gregarious qualities of the Mealy Redpoll are also displayed 

 in its summer-quarters, for though it cannot be said to breed 

 actually in society, its nests may frequently be found in close 

 proximity to one another ; and their several owners may often 

 be seen, as they form foraging parties or pass to and fro 

 between their homes and their watering-places, taking their 

 peculiar dancing flight in merry company over the neighbour- 

 ing tree-tops — the cocks uttering their gay song on the wing 

 or while they rest for a few moments on a branch, whence 

 they again betake themselves joyously to the air. The most 

 favourite breeding-places are generally in the more open parts 

 of birch-forests or the outskirts of thickets of alders and 

 willows, often in the neighbourhood of swamps. The nest is 



* Blyth made (Nat. 1837, p. 462) the curious observation, which the Editor can 

 eonfirm, that both Redpolls being in confinement equally fond nf liempseed it is 

 only the larger of them which can ordinarily crack the seed for itself. 



t Blyth (Nat. 1837, p. 460) states the contrary, but the Editor can support 

 Doubleday's remark. 



VOL. II. T 



