MEALY REDPOLL. 145 



The Arctic Redpoll, to adopt Mr. Hancock's name for it, 

 chiefly differs from the ordinary Mealy Redpoll in its larger 

 size and paler tints, while on closer scrutiny its somewhat 

 longer and more deeply-forked tail, and rather longer claws 

 become evident. Even in full summer-plumage none of its 

 colours seem ever to be so dark as in the commoner bird, 

 but the examination of a larger series of specimens than has 

 hitherto fallen to the lot of the Editor is needed before this 

 can be averred with certainty. In winter the excessive white- 

 ness of the margins of its body-feathers is at once striking. 

 A cock-bird will measure in entire length five inches and a 

 half, and its wing from the carpal joint three inches and a 

 quarter, the tail being about two inches and a half. The 

 hen is not inconsiderably smaller — with the wing measuring 

 three inches or a little over, and the tail about two inches 

 and three-eighths. 



The vignette represents the skulls of the Mealy and Lesser 

 Redpoll, with comparative linear measm-ements, drawn from 

 specimens prepared by the late Mr. Pelerin, and by him sup- 

 plied for the use of this work. 



vol.. n. 



