124 THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 



reflections, being less glossy on the under parts; feathers 

 of the neck, rather long and pointed. 



The nest is a compact structure, built on trees and 

 cliffs; it is made of sticks lined with grass and is used 

 year after year, additions being occasionally made to it. 

 The eggs are from two to seven in number, of a pale blue 

 green with brown spots, and two inches by one and one- 

 third in size. 



The bird breeds throughout the whole of the northern 

 and eastern part of the United States, but is rather scarce 

 in New Jersey, some being still found breeding in the 

 cedar swamps in the lower part of the state and solitary 

 specimens being observed occasionally along the sea coast. 



The principal food of the bird is carrion of all kinds, 

 but it also devours worms, reptiles and shellfish, and has 

 no hesitation about robbing birds' nests. 



Red Crossbill. See American Crossbill. 

 Redhead. See Eedhead Duck. 



Redpoll^ Redpoll Finch., or Redpoll jLinnet. — 



Length, five and one-third inches; extent, eight and a 

 half inches; bill, one-fourth of an inch long, sharply 

 pointed, pale yellow, ridged with horn color, a tuft of 

 feathers projecting forward over the nostrils; feathers of 

 the upper surface, dusky in the center, bordered with 

 buff and dull white, producing a streaked appearance; 

 rump, lighter and often tinged with pink; crown, bril- 

 liant glossy crimson; wings and tail, dusky brown, slight- 

 ly edged with white; under surface, white, the sides 

 streaked with dusky, the throat dull black, and more or 

 less rosy pink on the breast. The females have httle or 

 no pink below, but the males vary some, having but 

 little, while others have half the lower surface of this col- 

 or; tail, slightly forked; feet, black. 



The nest is built in a low tree or tuft of grass, of moss 

 and grass, lined with hairs, feathers and plant down. 



