BIRDS OF THE WOODS 37 



dark brown, with two outer feathers white, conspicuous 

 in flight ; superciHary stripe huffish. Throat dull 

 white ; under parts buff, with dark brown spots and 

 streaks. Bill brown above, paler below. Legs flesh- 

 coloured. Length 6 in. Female slightly smaller, with 

 spots on breast less clear. Young more spotted than 

 adult. 



Language. — Song may be syllabised thus : " chee- 

 chee-chee-chee-e-chaw-e-chaw-whee-whee-whee," the last 

 syllables repeated several times ; call-note, a prolonged 

 " see " ; alarm-note, a sharp " chip." 



Habits. — Much like the Wagtails in the way it fans 

 its tail and walks or runs. It usually has a favourite tree 

 from which it at intervals springs up into the air with 

 rapidly beating wings. When about 30 or 40 feet up it 

 commences to sing, descending to the tree from which 

 it started, or an adjacent one, in a series of graceful curves 

 and with wings held open in a parachute-like manner ; 

 it also sings when perched. Flight wild and jerky. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, spiders, seeds of cereals, 

 &c. 



Nest. — May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. — On the ground ; often at foot of male's favourite 

 tree, in some depression concealed by growing herbage. 



Materials. — Bents, roots, dry grass, and moss ; lined 

 with fine bents, grass, and hair. 



Eggs. — Four to six. Most variable in colour and 

 markings. Dull white, densely spotted or mottled 

 with greyish olive-brown. 



MEALY REDPOLL (Acanthis linaria). 



A winter visitor ; chiefly observed in the east of 

 Scotland and the north of England. 



