]18 FRINGILLIDjE. 



titmouse tribe. While feeding, a continual chattering is 

 kept up among these busy little creatures, interspersed with 

 shriller notes, so that their presence may often be detected by 

 the ear alone. It is not very easy to disturb them from 

 their repast, and even if fired at they will presently return to 

 the same place, and recommence their search for food. 



Besides the seeds of the above mentioned trees, these little 

 Redpoles feed on those of various kinds of thistle, the dan- 

 delion, &c. ; on those of some kinds of cruciform plants, 

 such as the turnip, and the seeds of mosses. In summer 

 they vary their food with insects and the buds of trees, by 

 which latter practise plantations sustain much injury. 



Although not found in the southern counties of England, 

 during the summer season, this little species does not retire 

 far northward, being met with throughout the year in York- 

 shire, and other northern counties ; and still more plentifully 

 in Scotland, where, according to northern authors, their usual 

 places of resort, during the breeding season, are the banks of 

 streams, where birch-copses abound, especially in hilly and 

 rocky districts ; or the brushwood that skirts the foot of 

 mountains, or fringes the banks of mountain streams. 



The nest of the Redpole, as described by different authors, 

 is variously placed : some are found near the ground in wil- 

 low or alder stumps, or among the branches of heath and 

 other low bushes ; occasionally more elevated in the branch 

 of a hazel or thorn, or even in more lofty situations. It is 

 formed of dry grasses and moss, lined with willow down, or 

 the feathers of mountain birds, such as the ptarmigan, &c. 

 The eggs, in number from four to six, are pale greenish-blue, 

 spotted at the larger end with reddish-brown, and sometimes 

 a few hair-like lines of a darker colour, brown or black. 



Yorkshire, above mentioned as the most southern county 

 in which the Redpole habitually breeds, is not, however, in- 

 variably the limit : since Mr. Hewitson mentions instances 



