6 20 LESSER REDPOLE FINCH. 



gregarious, and numbers are taken near London, 

 where it is often called the Stone Redpole. It is 

 said to breed in the northern parts of this country, 

 and to construct its nest of bents and moss, put 

 together, and lined with willow down : it lays four 

 or five eggs, which are of a blueish green colour, 

 sprinkled with reddish spots, but most so at the 

 larger end : according to Mr. Pennant, the female 

 is so tenacious of her nest, as to suffer him to take 

 her off with his hand, and even after she was 

 released she would not forsake it. It is said by 

 Linnaeus and others to be very partial to the seeds 

 of the alder, and that it associates with the Siskin, 

 and frequents alder w T oods, for the sake of picking 

 the catkins ; during which time it hangs like the 

 Titmouse with its back downwards, and is so in- 

 tent on its work, that dozens may be taken, by 

 means of a twig fastened at the end of a long pole, 

 and smeared with birdlime. 



It appears to be very abundant over the whole 

 of the northern parts of the globe, being found in 

 Europe, Asia, and North America. 



