BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 33 



IRebpole. 



THE Mealy Redpole (Linota linaria, Linnseus) is an 

 autumn migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits the 

 more northern portions of both hemispheres, and nests 

 principally in the birch region, and in winter moves south- 

 ward. The adult male in summer has the nape, back, 

 and scapulars dark brown, with whitish margins to some 

 of the feathers ; primaries, dusky ; innermost secondaries, 

 greater and middle wing-coverts, with whitish tips; rump, 

 white, tinged with pink and streaked with brown ; rectrices, 

 dusky, with narrow margins of whitish; crown of head, 

 crimson ; chin, black ; breast, suffused with carmine ; 

 middle of abdomen, whitish; sides, streaked with dark 

 brown ; irides, brown ; bill, yellowish-brown ; legs and feet, 

 brown. Length, five inches. The adult female in summer 

 shows no red on the breast or rump. In winter, upper 

 parts of the adult are lighter and the feathers show no red 

 on the breast. 



