38 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



Observation. — Distinguish from resident Lesser Red- 

 poll by generally lighter appearance. 



Plumage. — Lores black. Forehead crimson. Upper 

 parts dark brown, mottled and streaked with blackish 

 brown. Wings blackish, edged with pale brown and 

 whitish. Tail dark brown with pale margins. Chin 

 black. Sides of neck and breast carmine ; under parts 

 dingy white, streaked on flanks with dark brown. Bill 

 horn-colour, yellower towards base. Legs dark brown. 

 Length 5 in. In autumn, colouring altogether paler 

 and carmine areas more or less concealed. Female, 

 smaller, darker above, and more streaked below ; less 

 carmine on head and none on breast. 



Language. — Song, a vibrating kind of trill. Call-note, 

 " tewey." 



Habits. — Very Tit-like in its actions, being most 

 restless and fidgety. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, but usually seeds of 

 many kinds. 



Nidification. — Breeds within the Arctic Circle. 



WRYNECK {lynx torquilla). 



Mid-April to September. Most common in the 

 southern and south-eastern counties ; rarer and more 

 local in the North. Rare in Scotland, and almost un- 

 known in Ireland. 



Haunts. — Woodland districts. 



Plumage. — Upper parts reddish grey, spotted and 

 barred with brown and black ; nape and scapulars 

 streaked with black, a blackish Ime through eye to nape. 

 Wings tawny brown, finely reticulated with black, and 

 marked with alternate black and yellowish red spots ; 

 under parts pale buffish-white barred with dark brown ; 



