THE MEALY REDPOLE. 191 



covers the margins of streams. The nest is placed in a low bush or 

 tree, such as the alder, willow, or hazel, and is composed of moss and 

 dry grass, with a lining of willow catkins and feathers. On this soft 

 bed are deposited from four to six eggs, of a pale bluish green colour, 

 spotted chiefly at the larger end with orange brown, with occasionally 

 a few fine streaks of blackish brown. Pennant says, "We found the 

 nest of this species on an alder stump near a brook, between two 

 and three feet from the ground; the bird was sitting on four eggs, 

 and was so tenacious of her nest, as to suffer us to take her off with 

 our hand; and we found that after we had released her she would not 

 forsake it." 



These birds feed on the seeds of the alder, thistle, dandelion, and 

 other trees and plants; they have sometimes been seen picking young 

 buds in pieces, probably to get at the small insects they so frequently 

 contain. When feeding they may be watched with the greatest ease, 

 as they will allow an observer to come within half a dozen yards 

 without attempting to fly away. Even when fired at they only rise 

 into the air and wheel about several times, returning in a few seconds 

 to the tree or bush from which they started. Audubon says, "Few 

 birds display a more affectionate disposition than the Little Redpole, 

 and it was pleasing to see several on a twig feeding each other by 

 passing a seed from bill to bill, one individual sometimes receiving from 

 his two neighbours at the same time." 



The song of the E-edpole is clear and loud, but without much variety; 

 it may be heard chiefly during the pairing season. Its call-note is 

 rather shrill, and is frequently repeated when on the wing. 



THE MEALY REDPOLE, 



(Linaria borealis.j 

 PLATE XII. FIGURE IV. 



THE Mealy Redpole very closely resembles the species last described, 

 indeed it was for some time looked upon as merely a large variety of 

 the same. At the present time, however, most ornithologists believe 

 it to be distinct and identical with a species that is found in the 

 northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. 



