FINCHES. 337 



that this is certainly no specific mark of distinction, nor do I 

 believe that our lesser redpole (which is not recognized in 

 the north as a distinct species) is anything more than a 

 variety of the mealy redpole. The short-beaked form, how- 

 ever, seems rarer than the long-beaked. 



The mealy redpole remains in Scandinavia throughout 

 the year ; but they all retire to the north in summer to 

 breed, and I never obtained the nest anywhere except in 

 Lapland. Next to the brambling, it is, perhaps, the com- 

 monest bird in the Lap forests, and I think the nest, cup- 

 shaped, built of twigs and moss, lined with the pure white 

 down of the willow catkin and ptarmigan feathers, one of 

 the prettiest mementos of the northern forests. The eggs, 

 usually six, resemble those of the lesser redpole precisely. 

 It is singular that the mealy redpole, as well as some other 

 northern birds, does not appear to obtain the full summer 

 dress till many of the young are flyers. 



135. F. SPINUS, L. Gron siska. The Siskin. D. F. 



Scarcely so large as the last ; crown of the head in 



male black, in the female the same colour as the body ; 



upper parts greenish, more or less spotted with black ; 



under parts whitish yellow ; rump bright yellow ; sides 



with oblong black spots. 



Seems to be confined to the midland districts in the 

 breeding season, and I never met with it in Lapland ; re- 

 mains in the south through the winter. The nest is most 

 difficult to find, always built high in a fir tree ; not nearly so 

 neat and pretty as the last ; eggs five to six, grey-white, 

 with purple red spot on the large end. 



136. F. CAEDUELTS, L. Steglitz. The Goldfinch. D. F. 



Length 5^ in. ; a bright yellow band on the black 

 wings ; forehead and throat blood-red ; occiput and 

 nape black; back and sides yellow-brown ; tail black, 

 with white tip ; under parts white j female less bright. 

 Is met with in the south and often in the middle of Scan- 

 dinavia throughout the year. In the summer goes up as far 

 at least as Norrland, but I never saw it in Lapland. 



