REDPOLES. 121 
the earliest birds to breed in this locality. In Alaska Dall found fresh eggs 
in the first week of June. In Greenland the bird appears to be an early 
breeder, as I have anest and eggs taken on the 10th of June; and Kriiper 
found nearly fledged young birds of the Arctic Redpole on an island near 
Iceland on the 12th of June. He also found other nests with eggs on the 
same day. There is no difference whatever in the nests from various 
localities ; they are all composed of a few slender twigs in the foundations, 
and built up of dry grass-stalks and a little moss, profusely lined with the 
down from the cotton-grass, or from willow-catkins, or, if these materials 
are not obtainable, with white Ptarmigan feathers, hair, or wool. The 
lining is generally more or less interwoven into the sides of the nest, which 
can scarcely be matched for delicacy and beauty. In size there is not 
much local variation. ‘The inside cup varies in England and Siberia from 
13 to 2 inches in diameter by 1 to 14 inch deep. My Greenland nest 
does not exceed my largest English nest in size. In England the size of 
the eggs varies from ‘65 to ‘6 inch by °5 to °42, in Siberia from °75 to ‘65 
inch by °55 to ‘5, and in Greenland from ‘8 to ‘7 inch by ‘56 to 52. The 
ground-colour varies from bluish green to greenish blue, and does not 
differ locally. The overlying specks, spots, and blotches, principally at 
the large end of the egg, are dark reddish brown, and those which are under- 
lying pale reddish brown. Some eggs are much more marked than 
others, and some in my collection from the valley of the Petchora are 
very boldly streaked. 
The seeds of the birch are the favourite food of the Redpole; but it will 
eat almost any other kind of seed, and in summer it feeds on insects. 
It is a favourite cage-bird, becoming very tame, and will learn tricks like 
a Goldfinch, and is very fond of climbing all over its cage. 
The adult male Lesser Redpole in breeding-plumage has the general colour 
of the upper parts rufescent brown, with a dark centre to each feather ; 
the wings and tail are brown, with obscure pale margins; the 
median and greater wing-coverts with broad tips, and the innermost 
secondaries with broad margins of pale rufous-brown. It has a crimson 
patch on the crown and a distinct trace of crimson on the rump; the 
underparts are buffish white, suffused with crimson on the breast and 
shading into rufescent brown on the flanks, the feathers of which have 
dark centres ; the chin and upper throat are dark brown. Bill yellow, 
brown at the point; legs, feet, and claws nearly black; irides hazel. 
Females have no red on the breast or rump, and are more streaked on the 
breast and flanks, but otherwise resemble males. After the autumn moult 
the margins to the feathers hide the obscure traces of crimson on the 
breast, head, and rump, causing the male: scarcely to differ from the 
female ; but as the season advances these margins drop off, and the crimson 
gradually intensifies, not by a moult, but by a change in the colour of the 
