THE LINNETS. 47 



clutch of eggs taken by Mr. Seebohm in the Petchora there 

 are distinct scribblings near the larger end, similar to those of 

 a Yellow Bunting. Axis, 0*6-0-75 > diam., o*5-o - 55. 



HOLBOELL'S REDPOLL. CANNABINA HOLBOELLI. 



Linaria holboelli, Brehm., Vog. Deutschl, p. 280 (1831). 

 Acanthis holboelli, Sharpe, Cat. B., xii., p. 250 (1888). 



Adult Male. Similar to the Mealy Redpoll, but larger and 

 with a very much larger bill. Total length, 5 inches ; culmen, 

 o'5 ; wing, 2'9~3'o ; tail, 2*2; tarsus, 0-5. 



Range in Great Britain. Two specimens of this large Redpoll 

 are in the British Museum. They were formerly in the col- 

 lection of Mr. John Gould, and are labelled by him as having 

 been obtained near Norwich in January. Professor Newton 

 suggests that the longer bill of this Redpoll is due to the 

 food on which the bird subsists at certain seasons of the 

 year. 



THE LESSER REDPOLL. CANNABINA RUFESCENS. 



Linaria rufescens, Vieill. Mem. R. Accad. Torino, xxiii., Sc. Fis., 



p. 202 (1816). 



Linaria minor, Macg., Br. B., i., p. 383 (1837). 

 Linota rufescens, Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 146 (1877); Dresser, 



B. Eur., iv., p. 47, pi. 188 (1877); B. O. U. List Br. B., 



p. 54 (1883). 

 Acanthis rufescens, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xii., p. 252 



(1888); Saunders, Man., p. 183 (1889). 

 frmgilla rufescens, Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B., pt. xiii. (1890). 



Adult Male. A smaller bird than the Mealy Redpoll, much 

 more rufous-brown in colour, with only a little white ; bill 

 yellow, with a blackish tip ; feet and toes blackish ; iris brown. 

 Total length, 4-5 inches ; culmen, 0*35 ; wing, 2-7 ; tail, 1-95 ; 

 tarsus, 0-55. 



Adult Female. Lacks the beautiful red colour on the breast 

 and rump. Total length, 4-5 inches; culmen, 0-35 ; wing, 27; 

 tail, 1*9 ; tarsus, 0*5. 



Young. Like the old female, but the head and back streaked 

 with whitish ; rump paler than th^ back and mixed with white ; 



