534 LESSER REDPOLL.
stems and leave*. p i l i n g at tlio embryo buds while perched over them,
like Jays and Titmice.
So hardy iFthis spockv tW, afeoriing to Dr Eichakdson, I tSa
« p e r m a a « resident in the Fur Countries, where it may be mm in
tlie coldest weather, uxi the: banks lakes and rivers, hopping among
the reeds and carices, or clinging to their stalks. Although numerous
throughout the year, even in tliv most northern «Jistrictf, a partial migration
takes place, as large flocks visit Pennsylvania for a month or
two in severe winters." The migrations alluded to arc of rare occurrence
in tliat State, however; as well as in'that.of.New York. I never
Saw one .of these birds to the westward of the Alleghaoies, and none
were observed by I)r Towssifcior Mr Ni-ttai.i. on the Columbia
EiveK Tlioy are; abundant every «old winter % the-northern parts
«1 Massachusetts and Maine, as well a.« in all the British Provinces. ••-
The food of' this spwics.-coiisi'sts'of biuls, seeds of various grasses,
hemes; and the small loaves llj bushes and trees. I have represented
a male and a femal.! on a plant which grows abundantly in tlio localities
in which I (bund it in Labrador.
The many young birds which I examined ill the month of August,
had the head entirely grev. The feathers of that part, and those on the
breast and ramp, were of the sumo colour nearly to the base, which is bluish
grey; and I suspect that thev do not acquire any redness until the.
approach sipe spring. The old birds wore moulting at the period mentioned,.
and from their appearance I concluded that all their rod feathers
«MS. reassumed each spring. The eggs, from four to six in number,
measure live-eighths in length, rather more than half an inch in dial
meter, and are pale bluish-green sparingly .lotted with reddish-brown
toward the larger end.
FHisiciir.i.A tisAHia, Urn. ¡ f ^ :Iiftt...^<fflt
4i, p. 322- ¿•A Ind, Omit)!, vol. i.
p. 458.—CL Bonapivrte, Synopsis, p. 112.
Lesser Hkdvoll, IWkilla ijvaeia, » a... Am«r. Oxaith. voLiv.p. 42,pi, 30,
%. 4. Male.
LiKAiiA MiKoa, Lesser Redpoll, Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 267.
Lebser Redpoll, NutlaU, Manual, vol. i. 51$'' *
Adult Male in; Slimmer. Plate CCKLXXV. Fig. 1.
Bill short, strong, conical, compressed toward the end, extremely
LESSER REDPOLL. 535
acute ; Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge narrow,
the sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, without notch, the
tip acuminate ; lower mandible with the angle short and semicircular,
the dorsal line straight, the ridge broadish at the base, thé sides convex,
the edges sharp and inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal,
roundish, covered by stiflish reversed feathers.
Head of moderate size,.roundish ; neck short; body moderate. Feet
of moderate length, slender ; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered
with a few scutella of which thé upper are blended, posteriorly with
two longitudinal plates meeting at a very acute angle ; toes slender,
the first with its claw as long as the third with its claw ; the lateral toes
equal. Claws large, moderately arched, much compressed, acute.
Plumage soft, rather blended, with very little gloss, unless on the
red parts. Wings of ordinary length, thé first three quills almost
equal, but the second longest. Tail rather long, forked.
• Bill yellowish, the upper mandible dusky on the ridge ; iris brown ;
feet blaçkish-brown. A band edging the forehead, the loral space,
and the throat, brownish-black ; the reversed feathers on the base of
the bill yellowish ; the crown of the head'crimson; the hind part of
the head, the neck, the fore part of the back, and the scapulars yellowish
brown, longitudinally streaked with blackish-brown, the feathers
on the Kind part of the. back margined with whitish, and tipped with
carmine ; the wings and tail dusky,With yellowish-brown edges, and
two transverse bands of the same on the: tips of the first row of small
Coverts and the secondary coverts. The sides of the neck, its fore part,
the breast, and flanks, rich carmine ; the middle of the breast, the abT
domen, and the lower tail-coverts white, tinged with rose colour -, the
sidés longitudinally streaked with dusky.
I.ongth to end of tail 5 ; to end of wings 4 ; extent of wings 8f ;
wing from flexure 3,*! ; tail 2 j ; bill along the ridge along the
edge of lower mandible ffc ; tarsus ; first toe | | , its claw $ ; middle
toe its claw TV
Adult Female in Summer. Plate CCCLXXV. Fig. 2.
The female, which is somewhat less, has the black of the forehead
and throat more brown, with Jess red on the head, and little or none
on the ruiup,••••or on the lower parts, which are white, the breast and
flanks longitudinally streaked with dusky.