FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 285 



bright red; back fuscous grayish brown, the feathers margined with ochra- 

 ceous-buff ; rump tinged with pinlc ; wings and tail fuscous, the feathers more 

 or less edged with whitish ; middle of the throat blackish, breast suffused with 

 pink, belly white, sides streaked Avith fuscous. ^ ^^^ ^^ ^ 



Ad. 9 . — Similar, but without pink on the rump ^^^^^^^^^^^ 

 or breast, the sides more heavily streaked. Im. -'■'^^^^^^^^S^^^^ 

 —Similar to the ? , but without a red crown- 'i^^^^^^^^^^^^^- 

 cap. L., 5-32 ; W., 2-80 ; T., 2-32 ; B., -36 ; depth -^^^^^^^S^"*""^ 



liange. — Breeds in the northern parts of ''^^-'^^>0^^^^mp 

 the northern hemisphere ; in winter migrates ^^^:^t'^^^F 

 irregularly southward, in America, to Illinois -'i^^x^^ 

 and Virginia. " "'" 



Washington, very rare and irregular W. V. ^^g- 80. -Redpoll. (Natural 

 Sing Sing, irregular W. V., Nov. 25 to Mch. 

 26. Cambridge, irregular W. V., often very abundant, Oct. 25 to Apl. 10. 



Nest., of dry grass and moss lined with hair, feathers, or plant down, in a 

 low tree or tuft of grass. J^ggs^ four to six, white, tinged with green or blue, 

 spotted with reddish brown, -65 x -50 (Chamberlain). 



The little Redpoll is one of those birds that are best known as win- 

 ter visitors. Sometimes it comes from the north in flocks when driven 

 from home by the annual failure of the food supply, and speedily at- 

 tracts attention by frequenting the gardens and orchards, even when 

 these are within the limits of a town. In general habits it resembles 

 a Goldfinch, and while with us it finds its wants supplied chiefly by 

 the various grasses and herbs which project through the snow and 

 still retain their seed in spite of wind and weather. It is noted for its 

 affectionate and confiding disposition, and although it is not known 

 to breed in captivity it has always proved an easily tamed and inter- 

 esting pet. Ernest E. Thompson. 



528a. A, 1. holbcellii {Brehm). Holbcell's Redpoll.— Similar to 



A. iifiaria, but larger, the bill longer. W., 3-20 ; T., 2-35 ; B., -38 ; depth of 



B. at base, -22. 



J2ange.—''l^orthevn coasts of Europe and Asia (Norway to Japan), and 

 portions of Alaska"; casual in eastern North America. 



This is an intermediate between A. linaria and A. I. rostrata, most 

 closely approaching the former, from which it sometimes can with 

 difficulty be distinguished. It is an exceedingly rare bird in eastern 

 North America, where there are but two records of its occurrence : 

 Quebec (Ridgway) and Massachusetts (Brewster). 



538b. A. 1. rostrata {Coues). Greater Redpoll.— Similar to A. 

 linaria., but larger, the margin to the feathers of the upper parts averaging 

 darker, the bill shorter and stouter. L., 5-50; W., 3-20; T., 2-55; B., -35; 

 depth of B. at base, -28. 



