14 INTRODUCTION. 



redpole, are, by Linnaeus and Montagu, consider- 

 ed as the same bird, only differing in plumage, 

 according to age and season. The plumage of the 

 greater redpole is considered by Montagu to be the 

 perfect plumage of the species. He says he has 

 seen them in all stages, from the brilliant red on 

 the forehead and breast, to the faintest appearance 

 of the red on these parts, while others had no red 

 on either. He also says, young redpoles, brought 

 up from the nest, never assume the red plumage, 

 and that the adult redpoles, when confined in a 

 cage, lose the red, and never acquii*e it again. It 

 is with great deference we offer an opinion con- 

 trary to the authority of these gi'eat naturalists ; 

 but we are rather inclined to think, that the linnet, 

 grey linnet, or bro^Ti linnet, the red-breasted or 

 rose linnet, and the greater redpole, are three dis- 

 tinct bii'ds, but as closely allied to each other as 

 the three species of wagtails are to one another. 

 We shall state our reasons for thinking so. The 

 grey linnet is rather less, and more slender than 

 the redpole. The white on the quills and outer 

 feathers of the tail of the linnet is broader and 

 brighter than that of the redpole. The bill of the 

 redpole is rather larger, and broader at the base, 

 than that of the linnet. The marks on the breast 



