274 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



middle toe 9. There is little doubt that many specimens of this species 

 could be obtained in northern New York if a large series of redpolls were 

 collected and carefully examined; but it resembles so nearly the common 

 subspecies that it can not possibly be distinguished at any distance in 

 the field. 



Acanthis linaria rostrata (Coues) 

 Greater Redpoll 



Plate 78 



Aegiothus rostratus Coues. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861. 378 

 Acanthis linaria rostrata A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 3. 1910. p. 248. 

 No. 5280 



rostrdta, Lat., beaked 



Description. Much larger than the common species; general colora- 

 tion darker and browner; stripes on the breast and sides decidedly heavier; 

 the bill thicker and blunter in outline. 



Distribution. The Greater redpoll next to the Lesser redpoll is our 

 commonest species of the genus in New York. It unquestionably occurs 

 each season. Several specimens have been taken near Shelter island by 

 Mr Worthington, one of which, a female, taken February 11, 1879, is in 

 the Butcher collection, no. 1562. Specimens from the interior of the 

 State are: Ossining, taken February 12 and 13, 1883, by Ezra Acker (see 

 Fisher, N. O. C. Bui. 8:121); a pair taken at Lake George, Warren county, 

 January 2 and n, by T. A. Lockhart (see Fisher, Auk, 1:156); and 

 a specimen from Lewis county collected by Doctor Merriam, reported 

 in the Ralph and Bagg list, page 129. The specimen figured on 

 page 272 was taken at West Waterford, January 23, 1899, by Will 

 Richard, and is now in New York State Museum collection, no. 1139. 

 Its dimensions are: wing 78 millimeters; tail 60; culmen 9.6; depth of bill 

 7; tarsus 15.5; middle toe 10. By observing flocks of redpolls with a field 

 glass when they are working among the weeds near one in the field, or 

 in birch, alder, tamarack and apple trees at a distance of from 2 to 6 rods, 

 it is possible to distinguish, in size and coloration, between this subspecies 

 and the Lesser redpoll; and they can thus be recorded with certainty 



