LESSER RED-POLL. 
513 
ward to the very city of New York, where, in the 
depth of winter, and for several weeks, they have been 
seen gleaning their scanty food, of various kinds of 
seeds, in the gardens of the town and suburbs. Flocks 
are likewise sometimes seen in the vicinity of Philadel- 
phia in severe winters, though at remote periods, as, ac- 
cording to Mr. Ord, they have not visited that part 
of Pennsylvania since the winter of 1813-14. They 
appear very unsuspicious while feeding in the gardens, 
or on the seeds of the alder-bush, one of their favorite 
repasts, and, thus engaged, allow a near approach while 
searching for their food in every posture, and some- 
times head downwards. They are also fond of the 
seeds of the pine, the linden, and rape, and in the 
winter sometimes content themselves even with the buds 
of the alder. According to Mr. CEdman, about Michael- 
mas, they migrate from Sweden in flocks of more than 
200 individuals, which are found all to be males. Wil- 
son believed he heard this species utter a few interrupted 
notes, but nothing satisfactory is known of its vocal pow- 
ers. Mr. Ord remarks that their call much resembles 
that of the Common Yellow-Bird, to which, indeed, they 
are allied. They are said to breed in the Highlands of 
Scotland, and to select the heath and furze for the situ- 
ation of their nests; though they more commonly choose 
alder-bushes and the branches of the pine. The nest, 
almost like that of the Yellow-Bird, is composed of stalks 
of dried grass, intermixed with tufts of wool, and warmly 
lined with hair and feathers. The eggs, about 5, are of 
a bluish-white, varied with numerous reddish spots 
disposed at the larger end. A nest, on an alder stump, 
has been found in the South of England, according to 
Latham, on which the bird sat with so much tenacity as 
to suffer herself to be taken off by the hand, and when 
released would not forsake it. 
