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of Scandinavia, Finland, and Russia, as well as in the lonely forests of North America, and have 

 observed no difference in its actions and general habits from those of the common British species. 

 When living in the dense forests of North America, where during the dreary long winter animal 

 life is comparatively so scarce, the Redpoll and the Titmice were frequently almost the only 

 birds we saw ; and on bright days, when the sun shining on the birches used to make them 

 look as if covered with thousands of diamonds, the Redpolls would enliven the scene by their 

 clear lively call-notes and sprightly movements as they flitted from tree to tree, or climbed about 

 amongst the branches in every variety of attitude, now hanging head downwards like a Titmouse, 

 and now fluttering at the end of a twig, trying to extract the seed. It seems to be able to bear 

 intense cold ; for we used to see small flocks in the birch-woods during the most severe weather, 

 especially when the atmosphere was clear and the sun shining. We generally found them at the 

 edges of the birch-woods, near a clearing or small open place, and but seldom deep in the forest ; 

 and, unlike the Crossbills (which used to visit our camps to pick up any food that might be 

 thrown out), the Redpolls were but seldom seen close to the camp-clearing, and I never recollect 

 seeing any pecking about amongst the refuse thrown out. Usually they were seen in straggling 

 flocks, very frequently in company with Titmice, and but seldom in very large flocks. 



When the snow commences to melt and the streams to thaw up, the Redpolls commenced 

 to take possession of their breeding-quarters. I never found them breeding when in North 

 America, but had ample opportunities of watching them during the breeding-season when in 

 the north of Finland and Sweden. They usually select an open place in the forest, not far from 

 water, where the birch- or alder-growth predominates ; and the nest is placed in a bush or on a 

 birch tree, sometimes near the ground, and seldom at any great altitude. A nest of the present 

 species from Norway differs considerably in size from, being much larger than, the nest of 

 L. rufescens. It is cup-shaped, neatly and closely constructed of fine bents and green moss 

 intermixed with a few dark grey lichens and a few hairs, and is neatly lined first with fine bents, 

 and then with white Ptarmigan's feathers. It measures 3-55 inches in outside diameter, and 2-45 

 in height; and the cup measures 2 - in diameter by T4 in depth. 



The eggs of three at least of the four forms of Redpolls which inhabit Europe differ 

 appreciably from each other in size, though not in coloration. I possess eggs of Linota 

 hornemanni from North Greenland, of Linota linaria from Southern Greenland, Norway, and 

 Finland, and of Linota rufescens from North England and Scotland. All these eggs are pale 

 greenish blue, somewhat sparingly marked and blurred with dull rufous ; and in some specimens 

 there is here and there a dark reddish brown spot. -Some are more closely marked than others ; 

 but the variation is, on the whole, not very great. In size eggs of this species from Greenland 

 and North Finland are larger than those from Scandinavia ; but it is possible that those from 

 Greenland may be referable to L. hornemanni. Thus eggs from Greenland measure from f^f 

 by \ to f % by \ inch, those from Finland, obtained by myself when at Uleaborg, f^ by \ to -§-§ 

 by \ inch, whereas those from Norway average only -§-§ by f % inch ; on the other hand, the 

 eggs of Linota hornemanni in my collection vary from f § by f-§ to f § by \ inch, and eggs of 

 Linota rufescens vary from -§-§ by f % to f % by f^ inch. Unfortunately I do not possess eggs of 

 Linota exilipes. 



Mr. Collett, writing from Christiania, informs me that the male sings diligently during the 



