46 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



when the males assume the adult plumage, but are neither 

 as brown or rosy as their elders. 



They are easily brought up by hand on bread and milk, 

 and when they be^^in to feed they should have their seed 

 soaked till soft. In the house they never assume the 

 distinctive red of the wild bird, but are brown and 

 grey. 



In confinement they breed freely in cage and aviary 

 among themselves and with allied species. 



The agreeable, brilliant, and flute-like notes of the linnet 

 consisting of several strains, succeeding each other very har- 

 moniousl3',make the birds general favourites, and it is surely 

 a great mistake on the part of the trappers to destroy the 

 females that they catch ; the practice has led to the extir- 

 pation of the species in many parts of the countr\'. 



The nest of the linnet is built of grass and lined with 

 hair ; it is very compactly put together, usually in a clump 

 of furze, and the eggs, which are very like those of the 

 canary, are usually five in number. The length of the 

 linnet is 5^ inches ; tail, 2^. 



Twite, or Mountain Linnet. — This species is quite dis- 

 tinct from the last, and is brownish grey all over, but 

 darker above than below, mottled and streaked with black 

 and yellow ; there is no red on the forehead or breast, but 

 the rump is of a dull reddish brown colour, which is less 

 apparent in the female, which otherwise closely resembles 

 the male. The bill is yellow. Length of the bird, about 

 5 inches ; tail, 2}. 



Lesser Redpoll. — The etymology of the name being so 

 apparent, it seems strange that Morris should have spelled 

 it as if the bird had some connection with poles; but he has, 

 and ofiers no explanation of his motive for having done so. 



Reddish brown is the colour of the male, but the head 

 (poll) is fiery red, ■which is not always lost in confinement : 



