296 
LESSER RED-POLL. 
The Red-polls linger in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia 
until about the middle of April ; but whither they retire for the 
business of incubation, we cannot determine. 
In common with almost all our Finches, the Red-polls become 
very fat, and are then accounted delicious eating. During the win- 
ter above-mentioned, many thousands of them were exposed to sale 
in the Philadelphia market, and were readily purchased by those 
epicures, whose love of variety permits no delicacy to escape them. 
In America this species must breed far to the north, perhaps 
beyond the residence of man, as they are so tame and unsuspicious 
that one can openly approach to within five or six feet of them, 
while they are occupied in feeding. As a proof of their rarity in 
Pennsylvania, I have not observed them since the early part of the 
year 1814; they were then so common that they swarmed in the 
gardens of Philadelphia. 
