RED POLL. 47 



Nests and Eggs. Nests placed in bushes, tufts of grass, 

 or in cavities of trees or rocks, composed of twigs, grass, etc., 

 lined with fine grasses, or cottony material from willows, and 

 feathers. Eggs, four to six in number, oval in form, very 

 pale, bluish green in color, spotted and dotted, usually about 

 the large end, with yellowish brown. Dimensions, .52 by .95. 



General Habits. While it is quite probable that the Red- 

 polls visit Massachusetts every winter it is also true that 

 their numbers vary greatly with different years. Sometimes, 

 a few only will be seen, and then again the whole country will 

 be inundated with large flocks, and hundreds of specimens 

 will be seen daily ; at such times they range somewhat south 

 of New England, occasionally reaching Washington and Ken- 

 tucky. 



They begin to arrive in November; and remain until April, 

 in fact, I have on one occasion, seen them as late as the 25th 

 ofihis month. When with us they feed mainly upon the seeds 

 of weeds and frequently associate with Goldfinches and Pine 

 Siskins. They probably breed early, as 1 have had young 

 fully grown which were obtained on the Magdalen Islands in 

 July. The habits of all of the species of the Red-polls, appear 

 U be so similar, that a description of each would be superflu- 

 ous. The present species has the m.ost southern distribution 

 in summer, breeding as above stated, on the Magdalen It<- 

 hinds in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



Song. Both call and alarm notes are quite similar to those 

 given by the Pine Siskins, but are rather less harsh, being 

 about intermediate between those of this species and those of 

 the Goldfinch. The song which I have heard upon several 



