Genus ACANTHIS Bechstein. 



ACANTHIS HORNEMANNII EXILIPES (Coues). 



216. Hoary Redpoll. (527a) 



Colors pale, the flaxen of linaria bleaching to whitish ; rump, white or 

 rosy, entirely unstreaked in the adults ; breast, pale rosy, and streaks on the 

 sides small and sparse ; bill, very small with heavy plumules ; feet, small, the 

 middle toe and claw hardly equal to the tarsus. Length, 5. .50; extent, 9; 

 wing, 3 ; tail, 2. 50. 



Hab. — Arctic America and North-eastern Asia. 



Nest, somewhat bulky for the size of the bird, built of small twigs and grass, 

 lined with fine grass and feathers. 



Eggs, two to five, pale bluish-green, speckled toward the larger end with 

 reddish-brown. 



So few Redpolls are taken from the vast flocks which in some 

 winters visit us from the north, that it is unsafe to say how rare or 

 common any particular species may be. I have, however, observed a 

 good many in different winters during the last thirty years, and 

 have only seen one of this species. It was killed by K. C. Mcllwraith 

 at Hamilton Beach, on the 6th of April, 1885, and on being picked 

 up at once elicited the exclamations which follow the capture of a 

 rare bird. It was a male in fine plumage, the feathers being full 

 and soft, and beautifully tinted with the rosy color peculiar to the~ 

 race. 



This species is said to inhabit the whole of boreal America, but 



