292 NORTHERN REDPOLE. 



with much uncertainty for a period after, as in 

 the case of the Siskin in various parts of Scot- 

 land. We have only seen it alive twice, and 

 then the manners were similar to those of the 

 Lesser Redpole. 



The specimen originally figured by Mr Selby 

 is in length about 5| inches ; the occiput, cheeks, 

 nape, and back are umber brown, the feathers 

 very broadly margined with grayish white, giving 

 to the whole of those parts, particularly to the 

 nape and cheeks, a hoary appearance, whence 

 Mr Gould took his name ; the second quills 

 are also edged with grayish white, and the 

 greater and lesser coverts are tipped with the 

 same colour, forming a double bar across the 

 shoulders ; on the chin is a patch of brownish 

 black ; the cheeks, sides of the neck, throat, 

 breast, and flanks, are pale peach-blossom red, 

 shading into white on the vent and tail coverts, 

 and on the side of the breast and flanks, being 

 streaked with umber brown ; the feet arid claws 

 of this bird are proportionally shorter and stronger 

 than in the other British species. 



Of the numerous and very beautiful family of 

 Tanagrince, Britain does not possess a single 

 example. They are mostly confined to warmer 

 climates, exhibit both a brilliant and choice 

 assemblage of colours, and in their general form 

 approach to that of the True Finches, which 

 will now claim attention. The sub-family Frin- 

 gillincR) or Typical Finches, is composed of birds 

 of moderate size, of a strong yet elegant form. 



