CHAPTER XY. 



The Redpoll. 



Fringilla linaria, Lin. ; Sizerin, Buf. ; Der Flachsfink, Bech. 



Desceiption and Ohaeacter. — The EedpoU, more commonly 

 called the Lesser Redpoll, is well known throughout Europe. 

 It is a small, neat, compact bird, very active and hardy, of 

 an exceedingly affectionate disposition, sociable and tractable ; 

 hence, it is a general favourite with lovers of British birds, 

 and finds a home in most aviaries. The appearance of a 

 newly-caught, fully-matured male bird is very attractive, as 

 then the poll, or crown of the head, and likewise the breast, 

 are of a rich deep red rose colour, bordering on crimson ; 

 the rump is also strongly impregnated with this colour. 

 The female is much less conspicuous in this respect, the head 

 being of a pale red or orange colour, and the breast grey 

 and brown ; but in very old birds it is slightly tinged with 

 red. After being kept in confinement for some time, the 

 bright red colours gradually disappear, excepting on the head 

 of the male bird, and this colour, after moulting, is reduced 

 to reddish orange, and becomes less and less vivid as ' the bird 

 increases in years ; but the green lustrous feathers which 

 appear as a margin to the poll retain their colour. 



An adult bird measures 4|in. from the tip of the bill to 

 the extremity of the tail. At the root of the bill, and in 

 front of each eye, is a narrow stripe of black ; above this, on 

 the poll, is a brilliant deep red spot, with little black specks 

 dappled all over it ; and beyond this, towards the back of 

 the head, is a bordering of dark brown, shaded with lus- 



