FEINGILLID^E. 203 



LESSER KEDPOLE, Linota linaria. The Lesser 

 Redpole is a rather more regular winter visitor than 

 the Siskin, but still it is not as regular in its visits 

 as the generality of our migratory birds : it makes 

 its appearance here generally in October, the 8th of 

 that month is the earliest note I have, and stays 

 with us till about the middle of March, when it 

 retires northward to breed. It, however, partially, 

 if not entirely, assumes its breeding-season dress 

 before its departure. I have one in my collection 

 killed here on the 7th of March, which has a beauti- 

 ful bright pink^breast. Although, as far as I know, 

 it does not breed in this county, it does so in many 

 counties in England, notices of its nest having been 

 found appearing from time to time in the pages of 

 the * Zoologist.' 



The food of the Lesser Redpole, like that of the 

 Siskin, which bird it much resembles in its general 

 habits, consists of the seeds of the alder and the 

 young buds of other trees, especially the birch ; con- 

 sequently when a large flock of Lesser Redpoles 

 pitch into a plantation they do some considerable 

 amount of damage : they also eat the seeds of 

 various plants and weeds, such as the thistle and 

 dandelion, the seeds of moss also, and in summer 

 they vary their diet by the addition of insects to their 

 list of food. 



The nest is said to be built in a bush, or 

 low tree: it is made of moss and dry bents, 



