300 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



In the " Birds of Alaska," Mr. Nelson says : " Although the Red 

 Crossbill in the northern portion of the territory occurs only as an 

 exceeidingly rare visitant, the present species is found in the greatest 

 abundance wherever there are trees enough to afford it shelter. It is 

 in even greater numbers than the Pine Grosbeak, sharing its range 

 with that species." It has also been found occasionally in Greenland, 

 and is often taken on board of ships in the North Atlantic, far 

 from land. 



ACANTHIS HORNEMANNII. 

 215. Greenland Redpoll. (527) 



Bill, regularly conic, only moderately compressed and acute, as high as 

 long at the base ; color, black or yellow according to the season ; frontlet, 

 black, overlaid with hoary, a recognizable light superciliary stripe reaching to 

 the bill ; crimson cap over nearly all the crown ; upper parts, streaked with 

 brownish-black and white, the latter edging and tipping the feathers, this 

 white nearly pure, only slightly flaxen on the sides of the head and neek ; 

 wings and tail, as in the other species ; rump and entire under parts, from the 

 sooty throat, white, free from spots ; the rump and breast, rosy. Length, 6 ; 

 wing, 3.30; tail, 2.80. 



Hab. — Greenland and North-eastern North America, south irregularly in 

 winter to New England, New York and Northern Illinois. 



About the year 1863, a friend who used to join me in some of my 

 local collecting trips was in the town of Gait, and seeing a small' 

 flock of large light-colored Redpolls, secured two of the lot and sent 

 them to me in the flesh. I have neither before nor since met with 

 any so large and hoary. One of them which I still have, mounted, 

 seems to answer to the above description, but the country from 

 which the Redpolls come is large enough to produce varying forms 

 from different latitudes, and I think it is open to question whether or 

 not it is wise to divide them into so many species. 



