3G8 LIXARIA CIILORIS. 



consequence of the wearing of its tips, are much less remarkahle 

 in this than in any other British species of the family. 



Habits. — Towards the end of autumn, the Green Linnets 

 collect into flocks, which are often very large, and frequent 

 the lower districts, appearing chiefly in the neighbourhood 

 of towns or farm-steadings. Their flight is more rapid than 

 that of the Lark, and is similar to that of the Chaffinch 

 and Yellow Bunting, being performed in an undulated line, 

 the bird flapping its wings two or three times with rapidity, 

 then closing them, descending in a curve, and again ascending, 

 after which it repeats the flaps. They search for food in the 

 open fields, and during severe weather in the corn-yards, and 

 even upon the roads, associating with Chaffinches, Sparrows, 

 Yellow Buntings, and other species of this order. In general, 

 however, they keep by themselves in straggling flocks, which 

 sometimes are seen to alight abruptly, but often to wheel about 

 for some time previous to alighting, after which they scatter 

 about, and collect the seeds of oats, wheat, chickw^eed, and 

 other plants. I have seen them picking those of Centaurium 

 nigrum in the manner of the Goldfinch, as well as of Rosa 

 canina. On being alarmed, they arise abruptly, fly off", and 

 betake themselves to the twigs of the highest trees in the neigh- 

 bourhood, on which they settle abruptly, and remain in a 

 crouching attitude until the alarm is over, when they drop into 

 the field or yard. At other times, as when shot at, or other- 

 wise disturbed, they perform long flights, which they do with 

 great celerity in a loose body. When flying, and frequently 

 when perched, they utter, at intervals, three or four rather mel- 

 low short notes, nearly in the same key, but do not sing until 

 the commencement of the breeding season. These flocks are 

 met with in all the cultivated parts of the country, excepting 

 the western and northern islands of Scotland ; and in most dis- 

 tricts the Green Linnet is very abundant. By the middle of 

 April they have all disappeared from their winter haunts ; but 

 long before, often about the middle of March, they have begun 

 to disperse over the country. 



The Green Linnet is a robust and hardy bird, feeding dur- 



