62 FAMILIAR WILD I3IUDS. 



this country, as does the Siskin,, during the autumn, gene- 

 rally commencing to arrive about the second week in 

 September; and the young male birds, even then, show 

 signs of the red breast, having, at such time, a pink 

 shade pervading those feathers. 



These interesting little birds are gregarious, and there- 

 fore very susceptible to the allurements of the bird- 

 catcher's call-bird. During the winter they feed upon 

 the seeds of the alder and birch trees, and upon button weed 

 and such-like seeds. In districts where such food abounds, 

 Redpolls are very plentiful, and, if disturbed, will rise 

 almost simultaneously with a musical sort of chattering 

 twitter, and settle upon the nearest tree. They are, how- 

 ever, very tame and approachable ; and even if a stone be 

 thrown at them will, if compatible with any degree of 

 safety, return to the same tree. The report of a gun, and 

 the terrors of the rattling shot, cannot altogether quell 

 this daring disposition. As alder trees generally grow 

 near water, it is in such localities that the Redpoll is most 

 frequently found, and then, too, in considerable numbers, 

 sometimes as many as two or three hundred congregating 

 together. Waste lands or commons are also much fre- 

 quented by this enterprising little bird. 



Many instances have been quoted of Redpolls breeding 

 in this country. Morris mentions a nest found at Shanklin 

 Chine ; Selby asserts that he found a nest in the North of 

 England; and another pair were, during the year 1882, 

 found breeding near Oxford, in which year also several 

 nests were found in Norfolk. A pair once bred in 

 our garden in an elder bush about six feet high ; but this 

 pair were found to be escaped birds, as possibly may have 

 been those instanced above, though it cannot be denied 



