THE LESSER REDPOLE. 



THE LESSER REDPOLE. 



THIS is the smallest 

 of our Finches, mea- 

 suring only about 

 four and a half 

 inches in length. Its 

 crown is crimson- 

 red, hind part of 

 head and rest of 

 upper parts dark 

 brown, the feathers 

 being edged with 

 reddish - brown. Upper 

 tail - coverts tinged with 

 crimson. Wings and tail 

 dusky, edged with pale reddish-brown, 

 the latter forked. Chin black, throat 

 and breast rose-pink to vermilion, rest of 

 under parts light greyish, streaked on the 

 sides with dull brown. The female is 

 rather smaller, and lacks the red on her 

 breast and upper tail-coverts. 



The Lesser Redpole has bred, some- 

 what erratically it is true, in nearly every 

 149 



