BIRDS OF THE HEATH 291 



moulting, but when, in the open, the deep chestnut- 

 brown of its wings, and the rich carmine on head 

 and breast are seen, contrasted with the green and 

 yellow of the gorse-spray upon which it perches, 

 it becomes at once clear that the adult male in 

 full spring attire almost equals the gayest-hued 

 finches in plumage even as it excels them in 

 song. 



The changes of the tints on the cock Linnet's 

 breast are not easily followed. In my belief the 

 full carmine hue is not attained until the bird is 

 nesting in its second season, for males of a uniform 

 brown, probably hatched in the preceding spring, 

 are to be observed building in company with the 

 red-breasted forms. After attaining the full rosy 

 dyes it would appear that their brightness fades as 

 the birds grow older, merging first into orange 

 and at length into a coppery yellow. Transitions 

 of this character are certainly to be seen in caged 

 birds, the "copper" Linnets being thought to be 

 the best songsters, and although the changes are 

 doubtless accelerated by captivity, the process in 

 all likelihood exists in a modified form in Nature, 

 and may be held to account for the "lemon-," 

 "saffron-" or "sulphur-breasted" Linnets which 

 are occasionally caught. 



When the young are hatched, the parents collect 

 quantities of seeds which they disgorge upon the 

 edge of the nest, and the husks are thus softened 

 before they are offered to the nestlings. 



Another familiar bird of the open spaces is the 

 Lesser Redpoll, the smallest of the British finches. 



