THE REDPOLE ;r 



of the Red-backed Shrikes consists of mice, beetles, particularly 

 cockchafers, grasshoppers, dragon-flies, and other insects, also 

 young of birds. 



The GREAT GREY SHRIKE (Lanius execubitor) occasionally 

 appears in this country during the winter. The length is from 9 

 to 10 in. It feeds upon mice, frogs, and insects. The shrikes 

 take their prey much after the same manner as the flycatchers, by 

 darting upon it from some place of concealment. 



The SISKIN (Chrysomitris or Fringilla spinus), included in the 

 Fringillidae or Finches, is hardly to be considered more than a 

 migratory bird, as for the most part the Siskin fly to Norway and 

 Sweden in summer, and pair there, returning to Britain in winter. 

 Some, however, breed in the high parts of Aberdeenshire, nesting 

 near the extremities of the branches of tall fir-trees, or near the sum- 

 mit of the tree. The nest is constructed of moss, grasses, feathers, 

 and similar material. The eggs, three to five, are a bluish- white, 

 spotted with purplish-red. The colour of the adult bird is a general 

 green, each feather in the back being dark green in its centre, while 

 yellow hues tint the neck, breast, and behind the ear, the quills of 

 the wings and tail being black in the middle, sometimes shading into 

 olive, the belly and under-tail coverts being white. The average 

 length of the bird is 5 to 5^ in. The Siskins are usually seen 

 in small flocks, and are active and lively in their movements, climb- 

 ing among the twigs and boughs of trees, usually hunting osier-beds, 

 wooded margins of streams, and coverts. Their food consists of the 

 seeds of rushes and grasses, alder and birch mast, broom, elder- 

 berries, thistle, dandelion, chickweed, groundsel and other weed 

 seeds. Birdcatchers seek much after these birds, as when interbred 

 with the canary a hybrid progeny with a sweet mellow song is 

 produced. 



The REDPOLE (Linota linaria or rufescens), included in the sub- 

 family of the Fringillinae or True Finches, visits this country in 

 September, and remains to pass the winter, leaving for the north 

 of Europe in April, for the breeding season. This bird is taken in 

 large numbers in the autumn season by the birdcatchers. It is the 

 smallest of the British species of finches, the bill being short and 

 conical and the wings slender and pointed, and though of a sombre 

 colour, brown with darker marking, has a bright red pole on top 

 of the head. The Redpoles frequent waste places and fields in 

 flocks or gregariously, and feed upon small seeds, being very partial 

 to wild sorrel and other obnoxious weeds. The song is sweet, but 

 of weak character. The redpole will pair with the linnet, goldfinch 

 and canary. The nest is built in low bushes or trees, the eggs being 

 four or five, and of a pale bluish-green colour, spotted with orange- 

 brown. 



The WRYNECK (Yunx torquilla), allied to the Pieidce or Wood- 

 peckers, is characterized by its short, straight, and sharp-pointed 



