2 LESS Eli REDPOLL.
under my observation were occasionally placed us low us throe or four feet from the ground, and nouo
at a greater elevation than ten or twelve feet have eoitie under my uotiee. In the eastern counties
of England, and also in the Highland", I repeatedly watched tin's!' confiding birds engaged in collecting
the materials for building- I'nder date or June 21, while in the east of Norfolk, the following appears
in my notes for 1873:—"A nest of the Lesser Redpoll, about half completed, was observed in a small
alder tree overhanging a water-dyke. Itoth birds proved exceedingly unsuspicious of danger, and paid
not the slightest attention while their actions were elosely inspected at the distance of only a few
paces. The male, n brightly tinted hint, did little or nothing to assist in the work; he, however, on
almost every occasion accompanied the female on her short (lights of some ten or twenty yards to the
adjoining marshy ground where she collected (he lining for (he nest. Here hi' usually settled oa some
low stuiup or bush, and remained singing ami chattering while she gathered the Mutf of the cottongrass.
I remarked that the whole of the Hull' was picked from the thorn-hushes on to which it had
been blown since the grass commenced to seed and shed the tlowcr. This nest was composed externally
of dried bent-grass, together with line strands of roots, lined with the Huff of the cot (on-grass and a
few small while feathers."
Though no notes were taken on the subject, I am under the impression that many nests have been
met with in the Highlands in which a small quantity of green moss had been employed in the formation
of the exterior. While lunching during the early part of the fishing-sea son in the summer of ISIJU'
in a small plantation on the banks of the Lyon, in Perthshire, my attention was attracted by a low
twittering note evidently close at hand. On turning round, a nest containing a brood of Redpolls was
discovered within n fool of my bead on a small twisted alder-stump against which 1 was leaning. The
young birds were but little disconcerted, though the old ones declined to approach within three or four
yards. Our quarters being moved n short distance, they Hew down without (he slightest signs of fear,
and fed the nestlings repeatedly during the hour we remained near the spot. I well remember that the
colouring of the exterior of the nest corresponded with the green and moss-grown stump on which it
was placed; consequently it is probable that liviug moss was interwoven with the strands of grass and
roots that huund together the exterior.
No species responds more readily to the note of the call-bird, immense quantities at tiroes being
taken by the clap-nets. Even in the very centre of large towns Redpolls may be captured in small
trap-cages placed on the housetops during the season the birds are on flight. I have known many
sit'iired in this manner in Brighton and Hastings.
The large Hocks that occasionally show themselves in winter resort for the most part to waste lands
where the various seed-producing weeds grow rank and strong; plantations and hedgerows of alder also
prove attractive, their haunts being almost similar to those of the Siskin, with which species they not
unfrequently consort.
A hen Lesser lied poll which had been kept for some years in a cage in company with a cock Siskin
that died in the latter cud of March 1 was much cut up at the death of her companion, for whom
she had always evinced a great regard. Eor several days she called loudly, showing her grief in a most
unmistakable manner; and the introduction of another cock Siskin proved of little avail. For the first few
dnvs she pitched into the stranger and drove him about in the cage; he then asserted his authority,
when she speedily submitted, and after continuing to mope without signs of amendment for a week or
two, she pined away ami eventually grew weaker and died.
M E A L Y R E D P O L L.
LINO'IA LINARIA.
Tiiotfiii several stragglers of the Mealy Itedpoll have been observed in the east of Norfolk lale in spring,
I can learn of no well-authenticated instance of this species remaining to breed in Great Britain, Tho
end of the first week in October is the earliest date at which I met with this Redpoll; and, neeording to
my own experience, the majority have taken their departure early iu March. Though a close lookout
for the species was invariably kept in the Northern Highlands (where I was under the impression, from
information received, that it might possibly 1«' discovered breeding), I have obtained a chance of studying
its habits only in Norfolk and Sussex.
The numbers that reach our shores during autumn vary considerably, llighls of hundreds being noticed
one season, while scarcely a bird will make its appearance the following year. Large docks were scattered
over the greater portion of the east of Norfolk towards the latter end of 1s73, and again in 1SS1 1
noticed a succession of small parties among the alder bushes round ilioklitig Brand; here they were to
he seen almost daily from early in November till the cud of January 1**2. A few specimens exhibiting
rosy breasts were obtained on November l!>tb and again on January 6th ; their tials, however, wen far from
bright. I renulrkcd that but few males showing the slightest signs of colouring on the breast could lie
detected in the large bodies that arrived in 1H7;J. On this occasion, in order to ascertain their numbers,
I made use of three or four call-birds placed in cages among the large alders on the banks of (be lleigbam
lliver, near Norwich, and during the morning of December 2nd many hundreds of this species as well as
of the lessor must have been attracted to the spot.
By far the finest males that have conic under my observation were wen feeding on a lluslle-head
bluwu on to our lawn, near Brighton, un October 19th, 1S7"'. A strong gale from the south-west was in
full force at the lime, and the tiny strangers were carried away with a terrific blast before 1 had time
lo obtain a specimen. Even in the plates of tho various coloured works on ornithology, 1 have never
seen anything approaching the rich carmine lint exhibited oa the breast and head by these two birds.
The Mealy Itedpoll appears to become ipoedfly reconciled to con linemen!, and thrives well in captivity.
Two of the males procured in Norfolk in December 1S73, to act as call-birds, proved alter a few wi-cks
exceedingly lame. For a couple of years they lived contentedly together in a roomy cage, when early
in 1H7(I a female of ihc Lesser Itedpoll, which Hew in nt the window, was added. Early in June, as
several eggs were found at the bottom of the cage, a small Ikix with n nest and other materials was
plneed inside. A fresh nest was soon constructed and shortly nfter five eggs were laid. After sitting
thirteen or fourteen days (hrce young halchcd out, all of which were successfully reared. One, however,
when a couple of months old, was accidentally killed, the others living to the age of about six years.
In sire these birds were lielwren the Lesser and Mealy Itedpoll, the general colouring of the plumage
being somewhat paler than is usually keen in either; their heads exhibited a well-defined patch of bright
yellow, and the same was sulfused strongly over the breasts.