REDPOLK. 117 



appear at all seasons to prefer copse wood and plantations 

 of birch and alder, on the outskirts of woods ; especially 

 in the vicinity of marshy ground, small streams and rivulets. 

 In such localities they may be often seen in November, in 

 company with linnets, titmice, and siskins, feeding upon the 

 seeds of the above named trees. Passing through a spot of this 

 description on a bright day, in the middle of November, our 

 attention was arrested for some time by their active and eager 

 movements in search of their favourite food. As we ap- 

 proached the trees where they were flocking, from which 

 a narrow stream alone separated us, the linnets who were 

 feeding with them, more shy than the Redpoles, immediately 

 flew off and descended to the ground, where they continued 

 to make their repast among the thistles ; but the Redpoles 

 remained quite undisturbed by our presence, and as if al- 

 together unconscious of our being so near them ; nevertheless, 

 the low alders, among which they were regaling themselves, 

 being close upon the bank of the little stream, were not more 

 than three yards from us ; and quite within reach of limed 

 twigs, if we had been provided with such things. They were 

 all busily picking out, as it seemed, the seeds of the cones, 

 which hung plentifully upon the otherwise naked branches ; 

 and we could hear the snapping and rustling made by them, 

 as they picked out one by one these hidden treasures. 



These are among the most fearless of little birds ; we say 

 fearless because their regardlessness of mankind cannot be at- 

 tributed to dulness or want of energy, since they display 

 much susceptibility and affection among themselves, and un- 

 ceasingly contend for their own rights and privileges when 

 caged. 



In their actions, these little birds are lively and quick, 

 and when busied in picking out seeds from the pendant 

 bunches of alder, &c, they place themselves in various pleas- 

 ing and graceful attitudes, much resembling the actions of the 



