410 



REDPOLE. 



flavirostris, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 322. 27 Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 915. sp. 27.— Lath. 



Ind. Orn. 438. sp. 16. syn. of young.— Le Cabaret, Buff. Ois. 4. p. 76. — J&. p!. 

 Enl. 485. f. 2. male.— Gros Bee Sizerin, Temm. Man. d'Orn. 1. p. 373.— Petite 

 Linotte des Vignes, Briss. 3. p. 138. old male. — Bergreisig, Bechst. Naturg. 

 Deut. 3. p. 879.— Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 1. p. 171.— Frisch, Yog. t. 10. f. 2. 

 — Bechst. Man. des Oiseaux de voliere, p. 361. — Lesser Red-headed Linnet, or 

 Redpole, Br. Zool. No. 132. t. 54.— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 305. 75.— Will. (Angl.) 

 p. 260. t. 46.— Lath. Syn. 3. p. 305.— Ib. Supp. p. 167.— Lewin's Br. Birds, 2. 



t. 85 Mont. Om. Diet. p. 62.— Wale. Syn. 2. t. 223 Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 



12 Bewick's Br. Birds, p. t. 174. — Shaw's Zool. 9. p. 519. t. 70. copy from 



Bewick. — Low's Faun. Oread, p. 64 Rose Linnet !!! Flem. Br. Anim. p. 85. 



—Arctic Finch, Arct. Zool. 2. p. 379. A. — Lath. Syn. 3. p. 260. 12.— -Seljby, 

 pi 54. fig. 10. p. 279.* 



This bird is less than the common linnet and twite, and although 

 like them, subject to a partial change of colour at a particular season, 

 may be readily distinguished from them, as well by other peculiar cha- 

 racteristics as by its inferiority of size, weighing about two drams and 

 a half ; length five inches ; the bill is of a light colour, inclining to dull 

 yellow ; irides hazel ; the forehead is of a purplish red ; the feathers of 

 all the other parts above are dusky, margined with rufous-brown ; chin 

 black ; throat and breast pink ; sides streaked with dusky ; belly white ; 

 quills and tail dusky, edged with pale brown ; in some the rump is 

 tinged with pink ; legs dusky. 



The female differs in being somewhat lighter above, and in the co- 

 lour on the head, which is not so bright, sometimes yellowish. This 

 sex has the black spot on the chin, but none of the pink on the breast 

 and throat. In confinement they lose the pink colour on the breast at 

 the first moulting ; at the second the colour on the head changes to a 

 greenish yellow. Bechstein had a male, the head of which turned to a 

 fine golden colour after the third moulting. The young birds are 

 destitute of the pink feathers ; and indeed the males are subject to as 

 much variety as the linnet, and sometimes have no red at all on the 

 breast. 



This bird is not uncommon in the southern counties of England 

 during the winter months ; at this season it is gregarious, and numbers 

 are frequently taken about London and other parts by bird-catchers ; it 

 is there called Stone Redpole. It is said to reside during the whole year, 

 and to breed in the northern parts of the kingdom, retiring during the 

 summer to the underwood that covers the bases of our mountains, and 

 fringes the banks of our foaming streams. A nest and eggs received, from 

 our friend Dr. Latham, came from Yorkshire : it was made of bents, 

 and a little moss put together with the down of the willow, and warmly 

 lined with the same down. The egg is, as well as the nest, smaller 

 than that of the linnet, of a light bluish green, thickly sprinkled with 

 reddish spots, most so at the larger end. Mr. Pennant says he found 



