THE LESSER RED-POLL. 287 



northern hemisphere. In the highlands of Scotland they are 

 common, building often 6n the tops of the heath, sometimes 

 in a low furze bush, like the common linnet ; and sometimes 

 on the ground. The nest is formed of light stalks of dried 

 grass, intermixed with tufts of wool, and warmly lined with 

 feathers. The eggs are usually four, white, sprinkled with 

 specks of reddish. 



Contrary to the usual practice of Wilson, he omitted to fur- 

 nish a particular description of this species, accompanying its 

 figure. But this supplementary notice would not have been 

 considered necessary, if our author had not fallen into a mis- 

 take respecting the markings of the female, and the young 

 male ; the former of which he describes as destitute of the 

 crimson on the forehead ; and the latter not receiving that 

 ornament till the succeeding spring. When Wilson procured 

 his specimens, it was in the autumn, previously to their re- 

 ceiving their perfect winter dress ; and he was never after- 

 wards aware of his error, owing to the circumstance of these 

 birds seldom appearing in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. 

 Since then, large flocks have^been seen by persons who were 

 within a few feet of them, as they were busily engaged in 

 picking the seeds of some garden plants ; and it can with 

 confidence be asserted that they all had the red patch on the 

 crown ; but there were very few which had the red rump and 

 breast ; the young males, it is probable, are not thus marked 

 until the spring ; and the females are destitute of that orna- 

 ment altogether. 



The -Lesser Red-poll is five inches and a quarter in length, 

 and eight inches and a half in breadth ; the bill is pale yel- 

 low, ridged above and below with dark horn color, the upper 

 mandible projecting somewhat over the lower at the tip ; irides 

 dark hazel ; the nostrils are covered with recumbent, hair- 

 like feathers of drab color ; a line of brown extends from the 

 eyes, and encircles the base of the bill, forming in some speci- 

 mens a patch below the chin ; the crown is ornamented with 

 a pretty large spot of deep shining crimson ; the throat, breast, 

 and rump, stained with the same, but of a more delicate red ; 



