LESSER REDPOLL LINNET. 123 



Siskin, and are frequently uttered both when the birds are alighted and 

 while they are on wing. They were in small parties of seven or eight, 

 apparently formed by the members of the same family, and although several 

 of these groups were around me, they did not intermingle until fired at, 

 when they all simultaneously rose on wing, mixed together, and after per- 

 forming several short evolutions returned to the same bushes, separated into 

 families, and resumed their occupations. When alighted they were quite 

 unsuspecting, and so heedless as to allow a close approach, scarcely regarding 

 my presence, but clinging to the branches, dexterously picking out the seeds 

 of the alder-cones, and occasionally coming to the ground after some which 

 had dropped. 



Few birds exhibit a more affectionate disposition than the Little Redpoll, 

 and it was pleasing to see several on a twig feeding each other by passing a 

 seed from bill to bill, one individual sometimes receiving food from his two 

 neighbours at the same time. Occasionally, however, they shewed consi- 

 derable pugnacity, and one would drive off its companion, inflicting some 

 smart blows upon it with its bill, and uttering a low querulous chatter. 



In other portions of the same country, I saw flocks composed of twenty 

 or more individuals flying loosely at a moderate height, in the undulatory 

 manner of the American Goldfinch and Siskin, without, however, making 

 the deep sweeps of the former; suddenly alighting, and at once beginning to 

 search with great expertness between the stems and leaves, picking at the 

 embryo buds while perched over them, like Jays and Titmice. 



So hardy is this species, that, according to Dr. Richardson, it is a "per- 

 manent resident in the Fur Countries, where it may be seen in the coldest 

 weather, on the banks of lakes and rivers, hopping among the reeds and 

 carices, or clinging to their stalks. Although numerous throughout the 

 year, even in the most northern districts, a partial migration takes place, as 

 large flocks visit Pennsylvania for a month or two in severe winters." The 

 migrations alluded to are of rare occurrence in that State, however, as well 

 as in that of New York. I never saw one of these birds to the westward of 

 the Alleghanies, and none were observed by Dr. Townsend or Mr. Nuttall 

 on the Columbia river. They are abundant every cold winter in the northern 

 parts of Massachusetts and Maine, as well as in all the British Provinces. 



The food of this species consists of buds, seeds of various grasses, berries, 

 and the small leaves of bushes and trees. I have represented a male and a 

 female on a plant which grows abundantly in the localities in which I found 

 it in Labrador. 



The many young birds which I examined in the month of August, had 

 the head entirely grey. The feathers of that part, and those on the breast 

 and rump, were of the same colour nearly to the base, which is bluish-grey; 



