The Lesser Redpoll. 85 



a shoemaker's shop, while a couple more were chained to 

 little stands, and had learned to open a small box containing 

 their seed, and pull up a tiny pail full of water, whenever 

 they wanted to eat or drink. 



I never met with any of these birds in that part of France 

 where I was brought up, and where I lived until I arrived 

 at what are usually supposed to be ''years of discretion"; 

 when many changes having taken place in our family and 

 surroundings, I quitted la helle France, for good as I verily 

 believe: and it was shortly afterwards, while making a few 

 months' stay in Dublin, that I first saw a Redpoll and found 

 its nest, which was built in a thick bush in Glasnevin Bo- 

 tanical Gardens. There were four young ones, nearly fl.edged 

 in the nest, and these, undeterred by the sacredness of the 

 place, I popped into my pocket, and carried safely home, 

 where I was successful in rearing three of them on bread- 

 crumbs and crushed hemp. 



In plumage the Redpoll resembles the common Linnet, but 

 in size, activity, and figure more nearly approaches the Siskin; 

 for which reason, I suppose, it is usually classed with that 

 little bird at Shows. It measures about five inches in length, 

 of which two and a quarter inches belong to the tail. The 

 sharp yellow little beak is four lines long, and the black legs 

 eight lines high. The top of the Redpoll's head is, as the 

 name implies, of a rich crimson colour; the upper part of the 

 body is dark brown, spotted with white and reddish yellow, 

 the rump is rose, the throat black, and the under part of 

 the neck and breast bright red, with a fine white margin 

 to each feather. The rest of the under part of the body is 

 white. When confined in a cage, the males lose their bright 

 colour after the first moult, and hand-reared specimens never 

 acquire it in the house. 



The female is lighter in colour than her mate, and lacks 

 his showy red breast; the upper part of her body is spotted 

 with white and deep brown, antl the breast speckled with 



