i5 
Perching Birds. 
winter a large southward 
migration takes place, but 
the species does not seem to 
reach the countries, of the 
Mediterranean basin. 
In its ways the Lesser 
Redpoll, whether free or in 
captivity, is a most engaging 
little bird, and in confine- 
ment it makes the tamest of 
pets and can be taught to do 
a number of tricks. It will 
even nest in an aviary, a pair 
which Mr. Lort Phillips took to Norway this year (1897) building their nest in a 
pine branch placed in a cage on his verandah, and rearing four young. In the winter 
in the Thames Valley the Lesser Redpoll frequents the alders in company with the 
siskins, and is very similar to these birds in its habits, collecting in flocks or small 
parties and feeding on the seeds of the birch and alder. The call-note is also ‘eaglet,' 
like that of the Siskin and Twite. The nest is a compact little cup-shaped structure of 
moss and grass-stems, lined with hair and vegetable down and a few feathers. 
The Mealy Redpoll ( Cannabina linaria). A larger bird than the 
Lesser Redpoll, and easily told by its white rump, which is streaked with 
dark brown ; the bill and feet are also much stouter than in the Lesser Redpoll. It is a 
winter visitor to the British Islands, arriving in some numbers on our eastern and 
north-eastern coasts. Its breeding-range extends across Northern Europe and Siberia, 
and in Norway I have found it breeding on the fjelds near the limit of the birch-growth, 
at a height of about 3500 feet, but the nesting-habits certainly vary according to lhe 
season, as in 1896 scarcely a Mealy Redpoll was noticed during the whole summer 
until the end of July, when the sorrel and plantain seeds were ripe, and then numbers of 
the birds descended from the higher mountains and frequented the meadows of the upper 
Holboell's Redpoll. 
valleys. In the present year ( 1897), on the 
contrary, the species was quite common all 
over the birch-region and bred in the neigh- 
bourhood of every saeter. The nests were 
only discovered when the young were far 
advanced, and this may account for their 
very untidy and slovenly appearance, lor 
they by no means recalled the pretty little 
nests of the ordinary Redpoll. The eggs 
are five or six in number, and resemble 
those of the Linnet, but are much 
smaller. 
The Mealy Redpoll. The Lesser Redpoll. 
