MEALY REDPOLE. 587 



found in the northern parts of America and Asia as well as 

 in Europe ; and M. Ternminck mentions having received 

 specimens from Japan. 



The beak is much larger than that of the Common Red- 

 pole, but of the same form, and yellowish brown, the under 

 mandible being the lightest in colour ; the irides dusky 

 brown ; in winter the feathers of the forehead dark red ; 

 back of the head, neck, upper part of the back, and the 

 smaller wing-coverts, a mixture of dark and light brown, 

 the middle of each feather being the darkest part ; the 

 smaller wing-coverts tipped with dull white, forming a 

 short bar ; the greater wing-coverts uniform dark brown, 

 with broader ends of dull white, forming a conspicuous 

 bar; quill-feathers greyish brown; the primaries with 

 narrow, and the tertials with broader outer edges, of dull 

 white ; lower part of the back, the rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts, mealy, or greyish white, with a few dark brown 

 streaks ; tail-feathers greyish brown, with light brown edges, 

 the two in the middle short : the form of the tail deeply 

 forked ; the chin almost black ; the cheeks, ear-coverts, 

 neck, breast, belly, and under tail- coverts, pale brownish 

 white, streaked with darker brown, except on the middle 

 of the breast and belly, which are plain ; the dark streaks 

 are largest on the flanks ; the legs, toes, and claws, dark 

 brown. 



The whole length is five inches and a quarter. From the 

 carpal joint to the end of the wing, two inches and seven- 

 eighths : the first, second, and third quill -feathers nearly 

 equal in length; but the first and second rather longer 

 than the third ; the fourth feather two-twelfths of an inch 

 shorter than the third. 



M. Temminck's description of his Fringilla Borealis at 

 different seasons of the year, is as follows : 



The old male in spring has the throat and lore black ; 



