184 LESSER REDPOLL. 



the Baltic, but it visits Heligoland (where it has once nested), 

 Western (lermany, Holland, Belgium, and France down to the 

 Pyrenees. Bailly's long-doubted statement as to its breeding in 

 Savoy has recently been confirmed by the fact that Mr. S. B. 

 Wilson found it nesting on the Engstlen Alp (6,100 feet) and in 

 other parts of Switzerland, while Professor Giglioli had already 

 done so on the Italian side ; and it now appears probable that this 

 species inhabits the greater part of the mountain-ranges of Central 

 Europe. In severe winters it occasionally pushes its migrations to 

 the south of Spain. 



In the southern half of England the nest is often built in April, 

 but nearly a month later in the north. The situation selected varies 

 a good deal ■; in Norfolk, for instance, a small fruit-tree is often 

 chosen, while a good many pairs may be found breeding in low 

 alders and willows, down in the marshes ; again, small plantations 

 of conifers, shrubberies, and hazel-hedges are much frequented. 

 Fine twigs and grass stems, with a little moss and wool, are the mate- 

 rials employed for the exterior, the inside being beautifully lined with 

 vegetable-down (principally from the catkins of the willow), hair and 

 feathers. The eggs, 4-6 in number, are pale blue, spotted with 

 reddish-brown : average measurements "63 by "48 in. Two broods 

 are often reared in the season, and unfledged young have been found 

 in the nest as late as September 14th. In autumn the various 

 family parties unite to form large flocks, and rove about in search of 

 food, which, like that of other members of the family, consists 

 mainly of seeds. At all times of the year the Lesser Redpoll is a 

 remarkably tame and confiding bird, allowing a near approach ; 

 and it is also eminently sociable, being frequently found in the com- 

 pany of Siskins and other species. The usual note is a continuous 

 twitter, but the love-song of the male is rather loud and clear. 



The adult male in spring has the lores and throat black, forehead 

 and crown blood-red ; upper parts of a darker and warmer brown 

 than in the Mealy Redpoll — especially the pink-tinted rump, while 

 the bands on the wings are rufous-buff, not white; breast carmine-' 

 red, and plumage otherwise as in the Mealy Redpoll; colour of 

 soft parts the same ; but the dimensions less, our bird measuring 

 only 4*25 in., and wing 275 in. After the autumn moult the red 

 tints are generally less brilliant, owing to the pale edges of the new 

 feathers ; but I have seen old males with plenty of crimson in 

 October. The female is smaller than the male, and has no red on 

 the rump or breast, but only on the forehead ; while the young 

 bird is even duller in colour, inasmuch as it has no red on the head. 



