THE LESSER REDPOLL. 15 



around behind; and its hind claw is very long and straight. 

 This lark is always in a squatting position, with drooping 

 tail when at rest. With a long, black patch on each cheek, 

 a somewhat triangular black spot on the upper part of the 

 breast, reddish light-brown above and dull white beneath, 

 with yellow throat, long pointed wings tipped with black, 

 and a tail of the same color, a peculiar undulating flight 

 often accompanied with a soft tseep or tseepes, whether sitting, 

 walking, or flying, this bird readily appeals to the eye of the 

 observer. It was formerly placed in the fringillidce family 

 among the sparrows and their relatives, but now stands with 

 a Lark family, formed by later ornithologists. In the main, 

 it is a seed-eating species, but also subsists largely on in- 

 sects. 



THE LESSER REDPOLL. 



On this same day of indescribably beautiful hoar-frost my 

 garden was visited by an immense flock of birds, common 

 throughout New England and the Middle States during 

 winter, but resident in the more northern climes in summer. 

 They came in a cloud, the graceful curves of their undulating 

 flight intersecting each other at all angles, while here and 

 there one seemed to be describing unusually long, sweeping 

 curves amidst the dense moving mass, as if throwing out a 

 challenge to its more moderate companions. Cree-cree-cree- 

 cree, shree-shree-shree-shree, coming in soft, lisping voices from 

 hundreds of little throats, at once swells into a grand volume 

 of sound, which indicates that nearly all are taking part in 

 the animated conversation. They alight indiscriminately 

 on trees, shrubs, and weeds, and also on the ground, and 

 begin their search for food. Taking alarm readily, they 

 resort to the leafless tree-tops in the vicinity, or, rising high, 

 they leave the spot. This is decidedly our most beauti- 

 ful bird of the winter. About the size of a canary, 5-5.50 



