RARER BRITISH BIRDS. 19 



MEALY REDPOLE. 



Linaria Canescens. GOULD. 



MR. JOHN GOULD is the first naturalist who has noticed this 

 bird, as being distinct from the Lesser Redpole. The first 

 mention of his discovery is made in his work on " The Birds 

 of Europe," now in course of publication. The points in which 

 he states that it chiefly differs are the following : Its superiority 

 in size, its conspicuous greyish white rump, the broad band 

 across the wings, the light stripe across the eye, and the mealy 

 appearance of the plumage. The specimens, before supposed 

 to be of the Lesser Redpole, brought home by Dr. Richardson, 

 and the description in the " Fauna Boreali Americana," he 

 states to be identical with his Mealy Redpole. 



Wilson, the American ornithologist, omits to give any de- 

 scription of the Lesser Redpole ; and Professor Jameson, in his 

 edition, to fill up the vacancy, gives the description of some 



