228 journal and proceedings 



Genus ACANTHIS Bechstein. 



ACANTHIS HORNEMANNII EXILIPES (Coues). 



204. Hoary Redpoll. 537 a. 



Colors pale, the flaxen of linarius bleaching to whitish ; rump white or 

 rosy, entirely unstreaked in the adults ; breast pale rosy, and streaks on the 

 sides small and sparse ; bill very small with heavy plumules, feet small, the 

 middle toe and claw hardly equal to the tarsus. 



Length, 5-50 ; extent, 9 ; wing, 3 ; tail, 2-50. 



Hab. Arctic America and Northeastern Asia. 



So few Redpolls are taken from the vast flocks which in 

 some winters visit us from the north that it is unsafe to say how 

 rare or common any particular species may be. I have however 

 seen a good many in different winters during the last 

 thirty years and have only seen one of this species. It was 

 killed by K. C. Mcllwraith at the Beach on the 6th of April, 

 1885, and on being picked up at once elicited the exclamations 

 which follow the capture of a rare bird. It was a male in fine 

 plumage, the feathers being full and soft, and beautiful!}^ tinted 

 with the rosy color peculiar to the race. 



This species is said to inhabit the whole of boreal America, 

 but has seldom been found as far south as even the northern 

 tier of states. 



205. ACANTHIS LINARIA (Linn.). 528. 



Redpoll. 



Upper parts streaked with dusky and flaxen in about equal amounts, 

 rump white or rosy, streaked with dusky ; below, streaked on the sides, 

 belly dull white ; bill mostly yellow ; feet blackish. Length, 5^-5! ; wing, 

 2f-3 ; tail, 2J-2J. 



Hab. Northern portions of Northern Hemisphere, south irregularly in 

 winter, in North America, to the Middle United States (Washington, D. C, 

 Kansas, Southeastern Oregon). 



Nest, in a low tree or bush ; composed of grass and moss, lined with 

 plant down. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; pale bluish-white, speckled with reddish-brown. 



