TWITE. 69 



Twite. Aca?ithis flavirosiris (Linn.). 



The Twite (Plate 26) is resident on our moors from Stafford- 

 shire northwards, and has been found nesting in at least one 

 Devonshire upland ; it is common in Scotland and Ireland. 

 Its range abroad is limited, being confined to northern Scandi- 

 navia. Lapland and Finland ; as a winter visitor it is found in 

 most parts of Europe. Numbers reach us on migration in 

 autumn and return in spring. 



The Twite is a bird of the heather ; it is often called the 

 Mountain-Linnet, and though frequenting high moorlands is 

 also found on Scottish islands and suitable mosses in the low- 

 lands ; recently it has nested on a heathery waste close to the 

 Lancashire coast. On the grouse-moors it replaces the Linnet, 

 from which, when adult, it maybe distinguished by the absence 

 of red on head and breast ; it is a darker bird and its longer 

 tail, giving it a more slender appearance, further prevents con- 

 fusion with the Redpolls. Its yellow bill, for which the Scots 

 call it the "Yellow-neb Lintie,-' is a distinctive character. In 

 winter it flocks and descends from the high moors, frequenting 

 lowland fields, marshes and the shore. The flocks fly with Linnet- 

 like indecision, dancing and wheeling over the fields, and con- 

 tinually twittering as they fly. The name Twite is undoubtedly 

 derived from its call note " twa-it," and it has another charac- 

 teristic call, '■' deck " or " tweek," Canary-like in sound. The 

 song has some of the vibrating character of that of the Linnet, 

 but is, perhaps, less varied. Weed seeds, for instance, knap- 

 weed and thistle, are its chief food, but a little grain is picked 

 up in the stubbles ; actual evidence of it feeding on insects has 

 not been produced, but on the moors it is probable. In nuptial 

 display the male by slightly opening and then closing the wings 

 calls attention to his rosy red rump, his one bit of bright colour. 



The nest is built on the ground, in clumps of ling or other 



