i85 



LINNET. 

 Linota cannabina (Z.). 



Resident, common, and generally distributed. Large numbers 

 of migrants arrive in autumn. 



The earliest mention of the Linnet in connection with 

 Yorkshire is found in the following communication from 

 Mr. Jessop of Sheffield to the well-known John Ray, thus : — 

 " Sir, ... I have gotten a black-legged Linnet (L. cannabina). 

 ... I am, . . , Fra. Jessop. Broomhall, November 25th 

 1668." (" Correspondence of John Ray," p. 33.) 



Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : — 



Linota cannabina. — Common Linnet — Frequent in most districts, 

 especially the moorlands. 



The Common Linnet is resident and, as its name implies, 

 common ; it is generally distributed, particularly on moors 

 or waste and uninhabited lands. Like its more handsome 

 relative, the Goldfinch, its numbers have lessened during the 

 past few years, and this is owing to the same causes which 

 have led to the decrease of the former species, viz., high 

 farming, the discontinuance of flax cultivation, and the wiles 

 of the bird-catchers, who are ever on the look out to entrap 

 them for cage birds. It is, however, still common where 

 gorse abounds ; on the cliff tops near Flamborough and 

 Bempton it is particularly numerous in the nesting season 

 amongst the whin covers and in the bye-lanes ; in the Aire 

 valley it frequently nests in whitethorn hedges ; and at Spurn, 

 where it breeds regularly on the sand-dunes, the nests are 

 sometimes lined with feathers of the Lesser Tern. 



During the autumn large migratory flocks arrive from 

 over-sea, in September and October, and occasionally on the 

 return passage in spring. In 1884 from the 9th of September 

 to the end of October great numbers were reported, and also 

 in 1887 from the 8th of October to the 3rd of November ; 

 these occurred at all the light stations between Teesmouth 

 and Spurn, and on the i6th of April 1887, many were seen 

 at the Teesmouth going north-west. In the autumn of 



