110 THE BIRDS OF TKKRICK HOUSE. 



character so well befitting the sex. The fond dalliance usually succeeding 

 the fastening of the nuptial knot having somewhat subsided, the "happy 

 pair " have settled down in earnest to the duties attendant on married life. 

 They have built them a house ; and she which was late a " bride expectant," 

 is now an " expectant mother." The eggs have been laid, and she is engaged 

 in incubating them ; while, like an attentive husband, he is doing his best to 

 lighten her arduous task, and to aid and cheer her in the performance of the 

 duty which has devolved upon her. A few more days, and their little family 

 will demand all their care and attention ; and right cheerfully will that care 

 and attention be bestowed : faithfully and affectionately will they be nursed, 

 fed, and tended; the parents fearlessly exposing themselves to danger, if 

 necessary, in order to draw off attention from their offspring ; nor will their 

 care of them cease, until they are perfectly able to shift for themselves ; 

 neither will they then part company, but continue to live together in 

 harmony, till, united with other families, they become " part and parcel " of 

 one of those immense flocks we meet with after the close of summer. 



To whatever part of the common we may direct our steps, the blithesome 

 lay of the Linnet will not fail to be heard, numerous pairs of birds being 

 there located for the purpose of breeding. 



The description I have given of the male bird in his nuptial dress, does 

 not apply to all males indiscriminately ; for here we find some in almost as 

 plain attire as their more modest pai-tners, while between these two extremes 

 in dress will be found many intermediate varieties ; some having the breast 

 and forehead faintly tinged with red ; others the breast alone ; while one may 

 occasionally be seen with a brilliant red breast, but without any discernible 

 tinge of red on the forehead. What may be the true cause of this diversity 

 in the plumage of the male Linnet remains yet to be discovered ; by some it 

 is thought to depend upon the age of the bird ; this opinion may or may not 

 be correct. There is much in the history of the Linnet still shrouded in 

 obscurity; much that still requires clearing up. Formerly two distinct 

 species were supposed to exist, one called by Montagu, the Brown Linnet, 

 (Fringilla linota), the other, the Greater Eedpole, (F. cannabina), nor is it, at 

 the present time, perfectly clear that there may not be more than one 

 species, though the almost endless variety of plumage which displays itself, 

 would seem to be evidence rather against than in favour of this supposition. 

 Meyer expresses himself doubtful upon the subject Then, with reference to 

 the bright red colour with which some males in the nuptial season are 

 adorned, is it the result of a vernal moult ? Ornithologists tell us it is not ; 

 but that it is produced, or rather brought out, by the falling off, or wearing 

 away, of the tips of the feathers, which were of a brown colour, and concealed 

 the bright colouring underneath. I imagine there must be something 

 besides this in operation, else how is it that caged specimens never exhibit 

 this bright colouring: if the sole cause wei-e the wearing away of the brown 



