FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 285 



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

 ceous-buff; rump tinged witli pink ; wings and tail fuscous, the featliers more 

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

 pink, belly white, sides streaked with fuscous. 

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

 or breast, the sides more heavily streaked. Im. 

 — Similar to the 9 , but witliout a red crown- 

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

 ofB. atbase, -22. '^' ' 



Ramje. — Breeds in the northern parts of 

 the northern hemisphere ; in winter migrates 

 irregularly southward, in America, to Illinois 

 and Virginia. 



Washington, very rare and irregular W. V. ^ig. 80.— Redpoll. (Natural 

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

 2t). Cambridge, irregular W. V., often very abundant, Oct. 25 to Apl. 10. 



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

 low tree or tuft of grass. Eggs., 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. holboellii (Brehm). IIolbcell's Redpoll.— Similar to 



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



B. at base, -22. 



^a?i^^.—-" Northern 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). 



528b. A. 1. rostrata (Coues). Greater Eedpoll.— 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. 



