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MEALY REDPOLL. 



Fringilla borealis, Temm. 



PLATE CCCC. Male. 



Whilst in Newfoundland, I procured four specimens of this curi- 

 ous bird, all of which were shot while feeding on the berries of the 

 Summer Apple. It was in the month of August, and I well remember 

 the pleasure I felt when at the same moment several Indian boys ap- 

 proached and offered me their waterproof bark baskets filled with those 

 delightful berries equally pleasing to my taste and that of the Mealy 

 Redpoll. One of the birds appeared to me to be an adult, but to have 

 already changed its spring livery for the plainer one exhibited in the 

 Plate. The others were evidently younger, as none of them shewed 

 the least appearance on the forehead, cheeks, breast or rump, of the 

 red colour that existed on the same parts of what perhaps was their 

 parent. 



In their habits I could see no difference between them and the Com- 

 mon Redpoll ; but their notes, although in some degree similar, as is 

 usually the case in all birds of the same family, differed sufficiently to 

 induce me to believe that this mealy-colom^ed bird is quite distinct from 

 the species above mentioned, although very nearly allied to it. I wish 

 it were in my power to describe this difference of modulation, which 

 seems to me still vibrating in my ear ; but I cannot, and therefore must 

 be content with assuring you, that the notes of the two birds are as 

 nearly the same, and yet as distinct, as those of the American Gold- 

 finch, Fringilla tristis, and the Evn"opean bird of the same name, Frin- 

 gilla Carduelis. 



Removing from one spot to another with the peculiar activity and 

 capriciousness of the Linnet family, they would fly from one portion to 

 another of the wild natural meadow on which I watched them nearly 

 an hour before I shot them, alight here and there, peck at the berries 

 a few moments, and suddenly, as if affrighted, rise, perform various 

 wide and circling flights, in deep undulations, and at once alighting- 

 repose for a short while. 



Like Titmice, and often with downward inclined head, they fed. 



