MEALY REDPOLL. 143 



have generally done breeding before this attains its greatest 

 intensity. 



The whole length is five inches or a little more ; from the 

 carpal joint to the tip of the wing, two inches and three- 

 quarters ; the fourth primary is one-sixth of an inch longer 

 than the fifth ; the tail, which is decidedly forked, is about 

 two inches and a quarter. The bill, as above stated, varies 

 very considerably in size. 



The hen is perceptibly smaller in all her dimensions. In 

 summer her plumage greatly resembles that of the cock at 

 the same season, but, except on the head, there is no red, 

 and the upper parts are generally darker, while the lower are 

 more mottled and streaked. In winter there is comparatively 

 little difference in the appearance of the two sexes. 



The nestling has the bill brown : the lores blackish ; the 

 head and nape blackish-brown, each feather bordered with 

 greyish-buff ; mantle the same, but the feathers edged with 

 light reddish-brown ; lower part of the back and rump like 

 the head, but in some examples slightly tinged with buff and 

 the grey verges upon dull white ; the wings are as in the 

 adult, but the feathers are tipped with pale reddish-brown 

 instead of greyish- white ; the tail- quills are also narrowly 

 bordered with dull buff; the chin just shows an indication 

 of the dark patch of the adult ; the sides of the neck, the 

 throat and breast are dull greyish-buff, each feather tipped 

 with dark brown ; belly, flanks and lower tail-coverts much 

 the same but the warmer tint by degrees gives way to dull 

 white, and the dark tips are elongated into the form of ill- 

 defined streaks : the legs and toes are of a dull flesh-colour ; 

 claws pale brown. 



A few words must be added on the still larger form of 

 Redpoll, Linota hornemanni, already mentioned. Holboll 

 states that examples of it were sent by him in 1824 from 

 Greenland to Temminck, who at once recognized its distinct- 

 ness,* but afterwards erroneously referred it to the Linaria 



* In this determination he is said to have been assisted by Friedrich Boie 

 who from his Norwegian experience was of course familiar with the true Linota 

 lina'ria. 



