BRITISH BIRDS. 77 



Male : fore-part of head crimson ; nape and neck ash- 

 brown ; back and lesser wing-coverts reddish-brown ; 

 primaries blackish with narrow white outer edges ; upper 

 tail-coverts dusky brown, margined with buffish-white ; 

 tail blackish, all except two middle feathers edged on both 

 webs with white ; throat, breast and sides buffish-white, 

 striped with ash-brown, breast being suffused with bright 

 crimson ; belly whitish ; bill dusky at tip, paler at base ; 

 tarsi brown. Length 5*50. In winter crimson of head 

 and breast is lost. Female : browner and slightly smaller; 

 more streaked above and below with dark brown and 

 crimson is lacking. Young : like female. 



Common, except in extreme north of Scotland. 

 Frequents furze-covered commons or waste lands, nest 

 being built in small bushes or furze ; composed of roots, 

 moss, wool, etc., lined with hair, fibrous roots, etc. Eggs : 

 4 to 6 ; greyish-white, spotted and streaked around 

 larger end with reddish-brown ; size '72 by -52. Food 

 consists of seeds of various kinds ; in autumn small 

 parties frequent the stubbles. Song, which may be 

 heard both in spring and autumn, is varied and sweet, 

 but not very loud ; the males will often sing aggressively 

 against one another; I have heard them sing on the wing. 



94. Cannabina linaria (Linn.) MEALY REDPOLL. 



Hab. Northern Palasarctic region ; in Europe north 

 of about lat. 60. Southward in winter to middle Europe. 



Male : forehead dark crimson ; lores and upper throat 

 black ; feathers of upper parts dark brown, with greyish 

 or buffish-white margins ; rump-feathers almost entirely 

 pinkish-white ; tail-feathers dark brown, with narrow 

 paler edges ; median and greater wing-coverts tipped with 

 dull white ; throat and breast suffused with carmine-red ; 

 sides streaked with dark brown : centre of belly whitish ; 



