LESSER REDPOLL. 
35 
[Mr Ord lias added to the description of Wilson as 
follows : — 66 Contrary to the usual practice of Mr Wilson, he 
omitted to furnish a 'particular description of this species. 
But this supplementary notice would not have been con- 
sidered necessarjr, if our author had not fallen into a mistake 
respecting the markings of the female and the young male ; 
winter visitant, and is at that period gregarious, and frequently taken in com- 
pany with the other species by the bird-catchers, by whom it is called the Stone 
Redpoll. In the northern counties of England, and in Scotland, and its 
isles, it is resident through the year. It retires, during the summer, to the 
underwood that covers the bases of many of our mountains and hills, and that 
often fringes the banks of their precipitous streams, in which sequestered 
situations it breeds. The nest is built in a bush or low tree, (such as willow, 
alder, or hazel,) of moss and the stalks of dry grass, intermixed with down 
from the catkin of the willow, which also forms the lining, and renders it a 
particularly soft and warm receptacle for the eggs and young. From this 
substance being a constant material of the nest, it follows, *that the young are 
produced late in the season, and are seldom able to fly before the end of June, 
or the beginning of July. The eggs are four or five in number ; their colour, 
pale bluish green, spotted with orange brown, principally towards the larger 
end. In winter, the Lesser Redpoll descends to the lower grounds, in conside- 
rable flocks, frequenting woods and plantations, more especially such as abound 
in birch or alder trees, the catkins of which yield it a plentiful supply of food. 
When feeding, its motion affords both interest and amusement ; since, in order 
to reach the catkins, which generally grow near the extremities of the smaller 
branches, it is obliged, like the Titmouse, to hang with its back downwards, 
and assume a variety of constrained attitudes, and, when thus engaged, it is so 
intent upon its work, as frequently to allow itself to be taken by a long stick 
smeared with bird-lime, in which way I have occasionally captured it when in 
want of specimens for examination. It also eats the buds of trees, and (when 
in flocks) proves in this way seriously injurious to young plantations. Its 
call note is very frequently repeated when on wing, and by this it may be 
always distinguished from the other species. The notes it produces during the 
pairing season, although few, and not delivered in continuous song, are sweet 
and pleasing.” 
“ This bird is widely diffused through all the northern parts of Europe ; 
inhabits Northern Asia as far as Siberia and Kamtschatka ; and is also 
abundant in North America.” 
The authors of the Northern Zoology describe another bird allied to the 
Linnets, of which one individual only was obtained in the last northern expe- 
dition. It is said to be new, and is described as Linaria ( Leocosticte ) Teprocotis ,, 
Sw. Grey-crowned Linnet. It is an aberrant form of Linaria, which Mr 
Swainson proposes to designate under the above sub-generic title Ed. 
