MEALY REDPOLE. 511 



of animals has most freely allowed me the use of a cranium 

 of each of our Redpoles from which the representations form- 

 ing the subject of the vignette at the end were carefully 

 drawn, where, in addition to the side and bach view of each, 

 the double parallel lines exhibit at once the comparative 

 length and breadth of each head.* 



In the Museum at Saffron Walden, there is a male of the 

 Mealy Redpole, which was killed in that neighbourhood in 

 May 1836, and one shot by Mr. Pelerin at Oundle was suffi- 

 ciently advanced in its spring plumage to have acquired a con- 

 siderable portion of red colour on the breast ; the occui'rence of 

 this species, for such I consider it, is, however, most frequent 

 in winter ; many specimens have been obtained in England, 

 and some in Scotland. Its habits throughout the year are 

 probably very similar to those of the Little Common Red- 

 pole next to be described, and with which it has frequently 

 been confounded. Its food is the seeds of various forest trees. 



Thinking it not improbable that the Mealy Redpole, 

 named canescens by Mr. Gould, as here quoted, may be the 

 same bird as that which has been called Borealis by Messrs. 

 Temminck and P. Roux, — the eleventh part of Mr. Gould's 

 Birds of Europe having been published, I believe, before the 

 appearance of the third part of M. TemmincFs Manual, 

 which contained the Borealis — I may then add, under this 

 supposed combination, that the geographical range of the 

 species is very considerable. It inhabits Scandinavia in 

 summer ; and M. Temminck says he has received spe- 

 cimens from Greenland, which did not differ from those 

 which are obtained in Europe. Like most birds which 

 visit the Arctic Regions, this species is found in the northern 



* Mr. Pelerin has prepared a cranium of the Polish Swan, and pointed out 

 to me the well-marked osteological differences which exist between it and the 

 head of the common Tame Swan ; thus further proving the distinction of the 

 Polish Swan, which I had named Cygnus immtitabilis, from the circumstance of 

 its producing white cygnets. 



