518 GREATER REDPOLE FINCH. 



and in some specimens that he procured they 

 were bright crimson beneath. Colonel Montagu 

 likewise mentions having caught many of both 

 sexes on their nests, the males of which he found 

 with a little tinge of red on the breast only, and 

 from that every intermediate stage to the full red 

 on the breast and head. 



The nest of this species is composed of moss 

 and bents, mixed with wool, and lined with hair 

 and wool : its eggs are four or five in number, of 

 a blueish white colour, sprinkled with purplish 

 specks and lines : the first brood is hatched in 

 May, but if the nest is destroyed, is said to make 

 a fresh one as late as August. These birds fre- 

 quently fly in flocks during the winter, and feed 

 on many kinds of seeds, particularly flax: they 

 seem to be most partial to furzy commons, where 

 they generally build their nests : their song is very 

 beautiful, and finely varied ; they easily adopt that 

 of other birds, when confined with them, and will 

 often learn to pronounce words with great clear- 

 ness: their manners are very gentle. Are common 

 throughout Europe, and are sometimes found in 

 North America : they chiefly breed in the north* 

 ern parts of England, upon the mountains. 



