5(J(J NORTH AMKUrCAN lilKDS. 



e{,'gs from tliat ('(luiitry, wlicio its idcutiiii'iitidii was apparetitly comjtlete. 

 Wlietlicr this bird is resilient in, roj^ularly migratory to, or only accidental 

 in, Europe, is us yet a ([uestion liy no means fully settled. Deyland gives 

 it as resident in Oreenland only, and as accidental in (Jerniany, Belgium, 

 and the north of France. He states that it is known to nest in shrubs 

 and in low trees, and that, in all essential respects, its manners are identical 

 with the common Ked-1'oll. One of these birds wiis taken alive in a snare 

 in the vic.'inity of Abbeville, and kept in a cage, making part of the collec- 

 tion of M. Uaillon. 



Yarrell thought that suihcient evidence c.xi.sted of its specific distinctness, 

 but Mr. Gould regarded it as a matter of doulit whether the birds found in 

 Europe were natives, fir only arrivals from nortliern America. He states that 

 among the Loiulon dealers this bird, called by them the Stone lied-Poll, is 

 well known, and is considered distinct, but that its occurrence is very rare. 

 Occasionally, at great intervals, they are said to have been abundant. 



Mr. IJoubleday, of Epping, procured several sjieciinens of this bird in Col- 

 chester, in January, 18o(j, and afterwards obtained a living pair, which he 

 kept for some time. Their notes were much sharper than thn.se of the lina- 

 rius. Its occurrence was most frctiuent in winter, many specimens having 

 been obtained in England, and some also in Scotland. Its hal>its throughout 

 the year are sujijiosed to be very similar to those of the common lled-l'oU. 

 Its food is said to be chiefly the seeds of various forest trees. 



^[r. Temminck describes what is undoubtedly this sj)ecies, under the title 

 of boreal is. H' this supjiosition bo admitted to be correct, its geographical 

 distribution becomes much more clearly defined. He states that it is found 

 during the summer in Norway and Sweden, aiul is resident of the Arctic 

 Circle throughout the year, ami is also found in Northern Asia, as well as in 

 America and in other parts of Europe. He has received specimens from 

 (.Treenland, and tdso from Japan, difVeriug in no respect from these found in 

 Europe. 



Audubon states that he procured four s]ieciinens of this bird in Newfound- 

 land. In their habits he could see no difference between them and the com- 

 mon Ued-1'oll, l)ut did observe a noticeable difference in tiieir song. He 

 also states that one was shot by Mr. Edward Harris near Moorestown, N. J. 



Mr. John WoUey, in his expeditions to Lajdand, found tliere only one 

 species of this genns which was clearly referrible to the Mealy l!ed-Poll, and 

 was a common resident l)ird. One of tiiese eggs from Lapland is larger 

 and a nnich lighter-c(jlored egg, than any of the common Imarius. Tiie 

 ground is a greenish-wliite, sparingly spotted with dark reddish-brown about 

 tiie larger end. Its measurement is .8(1 by .oS of an inch. An egg from 

 Greenland is not jterceptilily different in size, color, or markings. 



Holbiill, in his papers on the fauna of (ireeidand, demonstrates very dis- 

 tinctly the s])ecific dideniuces ln'tween tliis liird and tiu> /imiriiis. These 

 are its stringer and bnjader bill, the diHeience in colors at every age, its 



