MEALY REDPOLE. 
202* 
hVSESSORES. 
CONIROS TRES. 
FIUNGILLIDjE. 
MEALY REDPOLE. 
Fringilla canescens. 
PLATE LI.* 
Although not myself a believer that the Mealy Red- 
pole is specifically distinct from the lesser, I have figured 
the eggs in deference to the opinion of many who, witli 
greater experience, think that it is. Taking a series of 
the eggs which have been sent me by Mr. Wolley, they 
are larger than those of the other species, more varied, 
and more closely spotted with rufous colour, still some 
specimens do not at all differ from them. Mr. Wolley 
says, “ The Mealy Redpole most seasons is seen through¬ 
out the winter in Lapland, though the greater number go 
southwards. Even in the breeding time it seems to be 
a gregarious bird, for a considerable number of nests are 
to be found in a small space of the birch forest, and the 
region of birch trees seems to be its proper habitat. In 
1854, I principally met with it in a small district at a 
great elevation towards the Norwegian frontier. In 1855, 
when all soft-billed birds were so scarce after the pre¬ 
ceding severe winter in the south, the Mealy Redpoles 
were abundant everywhere, from the very strands of the 
arctic ocean, over the mountains, where the nests were 
often close to the ground (as, indeed, they are sometimes 
in other situations) to the extensive forests of Muonio- 
niska. 
