BRITISH BIRDS. 259 



THE LESSER REDPOLE. 

 (Fringtlla Linaria, Linn. Gros-bcc sizcrin, Temm.) 



LENGTH about five inches. Bill pale brown, tip 

 dusky; eyes hazel; the forehead is marked with a 

 large pretty spot, of a deep red inclining to purple ; 

 the breast is of the same colour, but less bright; 

 the feathers on the back are dusky, edged with 

 pale brown ; the greater and lesser coverts tipped 

 with dirty white, forming two light bars across 

 the wing; the belly and thighs dull white; the 

 quills and tail dusky, edged with dirty white; the 

 latter somewhat forked: legs dusky. In our bird 

 the rump was reddish. The female has no red on 

 the breast or rump, and the spot on her forehead 

 is of a saffron colour; her plumage in general is 

 not so bright as that of the male. 



This species is found in every part of Europe 

 In America and the northern parts of Asia it is 

 likewise very common. They are not unfrequent 



