488 Song of the Momitain Linnet and Tree Sparrow. 



bearing a harsh resemblance to that of the linnet. Its notes 

 are always hurried and indistinct ; and are mostly delivered in 

 successive bursts (if I may be allowed the term), sounding 

 like several birds singing together, and reminding one of the 

 firing of bells. I have never heard the sound twite, which it 

 is alleged to utter ; but its usual notes upon the furze much 

 resemble those of the common linnet, being either a low 

 tsur-tsU'tsu, or a loud chit chit, I may take this opportunity 

 to mention, that, with the twite in confinement, the red on its 

 rump entirely disappears on the first moult ; as, from analogy 

 with its congeners, might be anticipated. 



The tree sparrow (Passer arb5reus ? P, montanus Anct,) 

 has been usually described to have no song ; which is incor- 

 rect, for one in my possession frequently sings ; and its notes 

 are not altogether despicable, being far superior to those of 

 the bramblefincb. The tree sparrow, like the common species, 

 has a great variety of chirrups; one of which is peculiarly 

 musical and sweet, and may be rendered pee-eu-weep. Its 

 proper song consists of a number of these chirps intermixed 

 with some pleasing notes, delivered in a continuous unbroken 

 strain, sometimes for many minutes together ; very loudly, 

 and having a characteristic sparrow tone throughout. 



This is a wild and untractable species in captivity ; and, 

 consequently, as birds always closely depress their feathers 

 when frightened, appears, when looked at, remarkably slen- 

 der : yet, when at ease, and undisturbed, the tree sparrow 

 always puffs its plumage so as to appear quite as bulky as the 

 common species; and the individual which I have in confine- 

 ment has generally this appearance, having lost much of 

 its original wildness ; still the species is undoubtedly more 

 slender than the P. domesticus. The sexes of it may be dis- 

 tinguished easily by the smaller size, in the female, of the 

 black spot on the side of the neck : in both, the bill becomes 

 quite black in summer. I do not know how this bird came 

 to be called *' mountain sparrow," and " montanus ; " for it 

 appears to me, both from observation, and from what I have 

 read of it, only to inhabit valleys ; frequenting low damp 

 situations where willows grow, and being moi'e abundant in 

 the flats of Lincolnshire than in any other part of Britain. 

 The more appropriate term arboreus, therefore, might as well 

 be substituted for " montanus," if the latter is thus implicatory 

 of error. 



Were I to judge of the temper and disposition of the 

 bramble finch from one which I kept in confinement last sum- 

 mer, I should call it one of the most untamable of birds ; 

 but, were I to form my judgment from the individual which I 



