290 
NORTHERN REDPOLE. 
pink, but generally of a uniform yellowish brown. 
In winter the red tints on the cheeks and breast are 
wanting, they are of a more uniform yellowish 
brown, streaked with umber brown ; on the crown 
the red continues, but loses much of the brilliancy 
and lustre which it possessed in summer. 
Northern Redpole, Linaria borealis — 
Linaria canescens, Gould, Eyton. — Linota can- 
escens, Yarrell. — Large variety of the Lesser 
Redpole, Selby . — We shall write of this bird only 
as British, and from British specimens. A more 
rigid examination than we can now give, and a 
comparison of British specimens of this bird and 
the L. minor, with individuals of the three North 
American species indicated by the Prince of 
Musignano, and specimens of the L. borealis of 
the European ornithologists, must be made before 
a proper decision can be come to of their identity 
or distribution. We have taken the name of 
L. borealis, because we are inclined to believe 
that the straggling specimens which are annually 
captured in our islands are there on the limits of 
their southern range, and that the bird is indi- 
genous to a more northern climate. No instance 
of its breeding has yet occurred with us, and it 
is more straggling and uncertain in its visitations 
than any of its British congeners. By Mr Yar- 
rell it is stated, that a figure of this bird is given 
by Walcot in his Synopsis of British Birds ; but 
we have not the work now by us to refer to. 
