44 MEALY REDPOLL. 



almost hiding the crimson. Under parts more striated. 

 Female, slightly smaller, no crimson colouring, and altogether 

 duller and more striated. Young, like female. 



Language. Song, a chuckling " turra-tit-turra-turra-turra," 

 generally delivered in an irregular manner on the wing ; also 

 "chick-chick-a-chock-chick-chick-a-chick, chick, chick, chick- 

 achoo.'' Call -note, " twit," rapidly repeated. 



Habits. Flight fairly rapid and undulating, more aerial 

 than other Finches, and in the love season the male delights in 

 rising up into the air a few yards and then gracefully descend- 

 ing, singing his best notes. Gregarious, even in the breeding- 

 season. 



Food. Aphides and caterpillars in summer. Its diet, how- 

 ever, is chiefly various kinds of seeds ; berries and grain in 

 winter. 



Nc'st. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. Preferably in a furze-bush ; in evergreens, and garden 

 shrubberies sometimes, in hawthorn hedges and bushes. 



Materials. Dry grass, small twigs, stalks, moss, and wool, 

 lined with wool, down, hair, and feathers. 



Eggs. Four to six. Bluish or greenish white, spotted and 

 speckled, and sometimes streaked with reddish and purplish 

 brown. 



MEALY EEDPOLL (Acanthis linarla). 



An irregular winter visitor ; chiefly observed in the east of 

 Scotland and the north of England. 



Observation. Distinguish from Lesser Eedpoll by generally 

 lighter appearance. 



Plumage. Lores black. Forehead crimson. Upper parts 

 dark brown, mottled and streaked with blackish brown. Wings 

 blackish, edged with pale brown and whitish. Tail dark brown 

 with pale margins. Chin black. Sides of neck and breast 

 carmine ; under parts dingy white, streaked on flanks with 

 dark brown. Bill horn-colour, yellower towards base. Legs 

 dark brown. Length 5 in. In autumn, colouring altogether 

 paler and carmine areas more or less concealed. Female, 

 smaller, darker above, and more streaked below ; less carmine 

 on head and none on breast. 



Language. Song, a vibrating kind of trill. Call-note, 

 " tewey." 



Habits. Very Tit-like in its actions, being most restless and 

 fidgety. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, but usually seeds of many 

 kinds. 



Nidiftcation. Breeds within the Arctic Circle. 



