45 



THE REDPOLE, 



Called also the Lesser Redpole,"and Lesser 

 Red-headed Lmnet, in order to distinguish it 

 from the greater red-headed linnet, is some- 

 what smaller than the common linnet, which 

 they strongly resemble in their habits and 

 disposition : they usually breed in the north- 

 ern parts of England, where they fre- 

 quently build their nest in whin-bush, form- 

 ing the outside of dry grass, roots, fibres, 

 &c. and lining it with wool, hair, feathers, 

 or willow down. In this warm receptacle 

 the female deposits four or five eggs of a 

 pale bluish-green, thickly spotted at the 

 large end with purple specks. Bewick ob- 

 serves, that '* in Winter they mix with other 

 birds, and migrate in flocks to more southern 

 countries; they feed on small seeds of various 

 kinds, especially those of the alder, of which 

 they are extremely fond ; they hang upon 

 the branches like the titmouse, with their 

 backs downwards, whilst feeding, and in 



