FRIXrJILLID.K — TIIK FIXrilES. 495 



defined ; in the 1)roediniT:-«!on!><on tlie ]>linnni:o ns^nmos n luirnt appearance, 

 the dark tints intensify and spread, so that sonietiiiu's tlie njiper parts a]>iH'ar 

 ahnost miit'orinly dusky ; tlie hill ai>pi'ars larijer, in eonseiiueiice of the less 

 deveh)pnient of its hasal tufts, than in winter. In this dusky sunnner condi- 

 tion these hirds form the ^K. J)isres(r/is and .A', msfntffis of Cones, the latter 

 being the summer plumage of var. hulhi">lli, the former that of var. /i/nn-ins. 

 In the series of over two hundred examples examined, all midsummer speci- 

 mens are in the plumage of /c.sccsci'h.s or rostri(fi(fi, while the hitter is not 

 seen in any autunmal, winter, or spring hirds. 



Specimens of the var. liolhoHi have been received from Quebec, collected 

 by ^Ir. W. Couper. 



Habits. Accej)ting as variations due either to locality, latitude, or seasim 

 the diilerences already referred to in the }ilnmage of this s])ecies, it is not 

 necessary to consider the (piestion of races in connection with our story of 

 their habits. We jjossess but very little information as to tlu ir ]»ecnliarities 

 as races in these respects. Treating, then, tlie Lesser Ked-Poll, though ap- 

 pearing in fonr differing ])hases, as one species, we claim it to be common to 

 the northern portions of both hemi)5]»heres. 



It is found throuLihout northern Xorth America from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacitic, is abundant in the boreal regions of Europe, and ])robably of Asia 

 also. On the Pacific coast, Dr. ('oo])er has observed it only as far south as 

 AVashiniiton Territory. Farther north it is nmch more abundant. Mr. Uan- 

 nister found it common at St. Michaels, both in summer and in winter. At 

 Nulato Mr. Dall found this s]>ecies very conuiion in winter, and very little 

 less so in sunnner. He states that the nest is usually lined with hair, and 

 covered externally with moss, dry gra.ss, and like materials, l>uilt in bushes, 

 near the groinid. They begin to l)uild the loth of ^fay. The eggs are laid 

 about the 1st of June, and the young are Hying near the end of July. 

 The young of the fii^st year are dark, with a small patch of brown on the 

 breast. After their se«Mmd year the males increase the amount of rose- 

 color on the head and breast, and the very old birds are (juite brilliant in the 

 breeding-season. At St. Michaels, where there are no trees and very few 

 bushes, these birds freipientlv buihl their nests in tlie grass. 



Mr. Dall states that this binl has no song, but that their cheerful twitter- 

 ing and chirping, their fearless and sociable ways, their bright plumage and 

 elegant nests, are ([uite enough to make them general favorites. 



liichardson found this neat and hardy little bird one of the few permanent 

 residents of the fur countries, where it was seen, in the coldest weather, on the 

 banks of lakes and rivers, lio]»]>ing among the reeds or clinging to their stalks. 



Mr. Lord found this s]K'cies a rare bird in liritish Columbia. It was imuid 

 in swam])y places, where the alders grew thickly, and where there were large 

 water-])lants. To these it clings, pecking at their seed-}>ods, or, searching the 

 remaininu flowers, feeds n^)on anv insects they mav contain. Their son^ he 

 describes as a soft and pretty warble, coming in bursts, the singer j)erching 



