218 FRINGILLID^ 



return of dawn, they issue forth to their feeding-grounds, 

 still congregated in large flocks, and spend the whole of 

 the day in hunting on the ground for food. This consists 

 principally of the seeds of various weeds, especially wild- 

 mustard or charlock, wild-cabbage, and other plants of the 

 same tribe, thistle and dandelion ; chance grains of corn no 

 doubt are not passed by, but any injury which may be 

 done by these birds, either to standing crops or newly- 

 sowed lands, must be far outweighed by their services as 

 destroyers of weeds and insects, which latter also enter into 

 their dietary. At this "season their only note is a simple 

 call, mellow and pleasant, which they utter both while 

 flying and when perched. In spring, the flocks break up, 

 and the members betake themselves in pairs to the com- 

 mons and heaths, which afforded them night-lodging 

 during winter. Here they build their nests at a moderate 

 distance from the ground, more frequently in a furze-bush 

 than anywhere else, but occasionally in other shrubs or an 

 adjoining hedge. The nest is constructed of small twigs, 

 moss, roots, and wool; and is lined with hair, feathers, 

 and sometimes vegetable down. The Linnet lays four or 

 five eggs. The spring and summer song of the Linnet is 

 remarkable neither for compass nor power ; it is, however, 

 very sweet, and on this account the Linnet is a favourite, 

 cage-bird. 



THE MEALY EEDPOLE. 



LINOTA CANESCENS. 



Throat and lore black ; forehead and crown blood-red ; breast and rump rose- 

 red ; under parts white ; nape reddish white, with dusky streaks ; shoulders 

 and back with dark streaks, edged with white ; quills and tail-feathers greyish 

 brown, edged with white. Length five and a half inches. 



A NORTHERN species of Linnet, closely resembling the 

 Lesser Eedpole, but larger. It visits Great Britain only 

 in the winter and at irregular intervals, being in some 

 seasons tolerably abundant, and in others not seen at all. 

 Little appears to be known of its habits. 



