51S GREENLAI4D RED-I'OLL. 



Alth()U'j,li I pre^unu' tlint tlieiv is nev?r a winter passes without some Red-polls 

 visitino; us here in Massachusetts, it is also true thai the numbers of these visitants vary 

 ivreatly. During some seasons the counti-y is inundated hy thousands of specimens, ami 

 tiocks containinsj; hundreds of individuals may be seen daily. In other winters a few 

 stra<;;!^lers only are seen. Frobalily, partly, the \ar\ing depth of the snow further 

 north has something to do with this variation of migration, for this must in a measure 

 o-overn the food suppl\-, as a heavy snowfall must cover the weeds, grasses, etc., the 

 seeds of which form the food of this little bird, to a greater extent than a lighter fUl. 



With us in Massachusetts the Red-polls begin .to arrive late in November and often 

 remain until late in spring. I have on one occasion seen them as late as the 2-3th of 

 April. When with us they associate in flocks, but a,re a restless species, moving rapidly from 

 ])lace to place uttering a somewhat luisky chirp as they ily with an undulating movement. 

 In the spring t'ae males have a pleasing warbling song. One of my collectors obtained 

 the vouno- fully orown on the Magdalen Islands in Jidy, so that tlie Red-polls must breed 

 early, in'o!)aljly nesting in May. The habits of all the Red-polls appear similar and the 

 nests and eggs as far as known are indistinguishable. 



Acanthis linaria holboellii. 

 Holboells Red-poll. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sub. Sp. Ch. Outline of bill straight as in the Red-poll, and the colors are about the same, but the size 

 is considerably larger, the length being G.OO or more, and the wing not less than 3.00. These differences in so 

 small a bird are quite discernable and this form appears noticealjly large. 



This sub-species is more northern in distribution than the Red-poll, breeding far north and rarely reach- 

 ing the United States in its southern range, and is very rare as far south as Massachusetts. 



ACANTHIS ROSTRATA. 

 Greater Red-po!l. 



DESCRIPTION. 



S]). Cu. Outlines of upper mandible, decidedly cnrveil. (See Fig. 50, B.) The size is large, 

 averaging larger than the least length of males, over G.OO. The streakings, both above and below, are broad 

 and heavy. These, with the large bill with its curved upper mandible, which is about the size and form of 

 that of a Tree Sparrow, will serve to distinguish it. This is usually regarded as a sub-species, but I have 

 never seen a specimen that could not be distinguished at sight. The Greater Red-poll does not have such a 

 high northern breeding range as does Ilolboell's, and migrates into the United States in large numbers, 

 often in flocks by itself. I had a lot sent me from Clayton. Minnesota, in the winter of 18S5. and they were 

 common that winter throughout eastern Massachusetts, especially on the coast in the neighborhood of Boston. 



Acanthis hornemannii. 

 Greenland Red-poll. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Bill, proportionately short, with the outline of the upper mandible decidedly convex. Size, 

 about that of the Greater Red-poll, averaging possibly larger, at least 6.00 long, but the color is much 

 lighter, the dusky markings being narrower, and the rump is wholly white or rosy without any streakings 

 whatever. Occurs in Greenland and Northern Europe, possibly never occurring on the mainland of North 

 America. 



