290 NORTHERN REDPOLE. 



pink, but generally of a uniform yellowish brown. 

 In winter the red tints on the cheeks and breast are 

 wanting, they aVe of a more uniform yellowish 

 brown, streaked with umber brown ; on the crown 

 the red continues, but loses much of the brilliancy 

 and lustre which it possessed in summer. 



NORTHERN REDPOLE, LINARIA BOREALIS 

 Linaria canescens, Gould, Eyton. Linota can- 

 escens, YarrelL Large variety of the Lesser 

 Redpole, Selby. We shall write of this bird only 

 as British, and from British specimens. A more 

 rigid examination than we can now give, and a 

 jomparison of British specimens of this bird and 

 the L. minor, with individuals of the three North 

 American species indicated by the Prince of 

 Musignano, and specimens of the L. borealis of 

 the European ornithologists, must be made before 

 a proper decision can be come to of their identity 

 or distribution. We have taken the name of 

 L. borealis, because we are inclined to believe 

 that the straggling specimens which are annually 

 captured in our islands are there on the limits of 

 their southern range, and that the bird is indi- 

 genous to a more northern climate. No instance 

 of its breeding has yet occurred with us, and it 

 is more straggling and uncertain in its visitations 

 than any of its British congeners. By Mr Yar- 

 rell it is stated, that a figure of this bird is given 

 by Walcot in his Synopsis of British Birds ; but 

 we have not the work now by us to refer to. 



