MOUNTAIN LINNET. 
105 
THE LESSEE EEDPOLE. 
TAnota linaria. 
Naturally preferring trees and cultivated districts, the Lesser 
Eedpole is far less numerous than the preceding species ; 
notwithstanding, under stress of weather, a few may occasion- 
ally he seen beneath the shelter of walls or in ditches, con- 
tenting themselves with such food as may be obtained there 
until a favourable change enables them to depart. Except in 
its avoidance of open stony places, this species almost precisely 
resembles the last in habit as in almost every action ; so much 
so, indeed, that for the ordinary observer to confuse the two is 
quite pardonable. It, however, wants the light colour above 
the tail which is so conspicuous in the Mealy Eedpole. Both 
the birds vary considerably in size, but examination of a large 
number of males of each species leads me to believe that the 
following measurements are as near the average as possible : — 
Length, . 
Wing from flexure to tip, 
Bill from front to tip, . 
Tarsus, . 
IVliddle toe and its claw. 
Mealy Redpole. 
Lesser Redpole. 
5| in. 
4| in. 
H „ 
‘2| „ 
A >> 
k „ 
4 „ 
4 „ 
A „ 
A > > 
THE MOUNTAIN LINNET on TWITE. 
Linota Jlamrosiris. 
LINTIE. 
This mischievous but sprightly and interesting little bird is 
generally distributed throughout the islands, remaining all the 
year, and collecting into very large flocks during the winter. 
At that season they are seldom met with in uncultivated dis- 
tricts, chiefly frequenting the neighbourhood of small villages, 
or ''toons” as they are termed, where, among sheep, cattle, and 
horses, they contrive to pick up a living; but they find the 
corn-yards the great attraction, assembling there in large 
numbers, and even settling themselves down for the night in 
