m 



:. -P;'! -'--.- 



Tin: mi:ai,y REDrOLE.* 



Mr. Gould saj's : — " Whether this species is truly a native of Europe, or whether 

 those which occur in our island are arrivals from tlie northern portions of the American 

 continent, is a matter of doubt ; true it is, that the specimens brought home by Dr. 

 Eicliardson, which furnished the descriptions given in the " Fauna-Boreali Americana," 

 are strictly identical with the bird before us." 



THE MOUATAIN UKXET. 



This is a stout-made bird, -which is said to nestle in the pine-trees. While in Britain 

 it keeps more to the open fields than the trees and copses. The mountain finches or 

 linnets are rather arctic birds, and are described as subject to considerable variations of 

 colour. The length is about six inches and a half, the extent of the wings ten and a 

 half, and the weight rather more than an ounce. 



Mr. MacgUlivray states that " it is plentiful in the Hebrides, and in winter frequents 

 the corn-vards in large flocks, clinging to the stacks of oats, and picking out the seeds. 

 Its flight is rapid and undulated, and it whirls over the fields previous to alighting, 

 uttering a soft twitter at intervals. "When disturbed it betakes itself to tall trees, or to 

 a distant field ; but is not shj', and may, therefore, be easily apiiroached when feeding. 

 In spring it forsakes its winter haunts, and disj)erses over the hilly tracks, where it 

 forms its nest on the ground, among short heath, or on the grassy slopes of craggy spots. 

 It is neatly constructed, being composed externally of fine drj^ grass, fragments of heath, 

 and a little moss ; internally of fibrous roots, wool, and hair. The eggs are bluish white, 

 marked towards the larger end with light brown and purplish red, sometimes with a few 

 blackish dots." 



The mountain linnet nestles in the heather, though not so much in the thick dark 

 extent of it as the grouse, but rather in the tufts which are interspersed with coarse grass, 

 near the marshy and boggy places. Over these it flies low, and upon gloomy and 

 drizzling days rather dismally uttering its single and complaining note — twite, ini- 

 answered by the voice of any living creature ; and, excepting the owl, is perhaps the only 

 land bird which makes the jilace of its habitation feel more desolate and sad. " As one goes 

 mountain-ward," says Mudie, " tlic lark, the linnet, and other bush-birds, and the lesser 

 red-pole, give an air of liveliness, either by the blitheness of their songs, or the activity 

 of their motions ; but when one comes to the cold unbroken moor, where no vegetable 

 rises liigher than the knee, the mountain linnet inspires a very ditt'erent feeling." 



Linota Cancsccns, 



t Pringilia Montana. 



