L. fringilVirostris or L. hella. In winter one or both visit Egypt 

 and Abyssinia. 



Breeding begins about the middle of April ; the nest being made 

 of fine twigs, moss and grass-stalks, and lined with wool, hair, 

 vegetable-down and sometimes a few feathers. It is generally 

 placed in gorse or juniper bushes, though often in hedges, and 

 sometimes in low trees. The eggs, 4-6 in number, are bluish- 

 white, blotched, speckled and streaked with reddish-brown and 

 purplish-red : measurements 7 by '53 in. Two broods are often 

 reared in the season. The food consists of soft seeds, especially those 

 of an oily nature, as in the case of the various species of flax and 

 hemp ; grains of charlock, knot-grass, and other weeds are also 

 largely consumed ; while in winter various kinds of berries and even 

 oats are devoured. In autumn the different families unite in large 

 flocks, which may be seen crossing the stubbles with swift dipping 

 flight, uttering their musical and rapidly-repeated twit, twit. At this 

 season large numbers are taken by bird-catchers, as the prisoners 

 then adapt themselves more easily to captivity than if captured in 

 the spring. The natural song is sweet, although somewhat irregular, 

 but it is the capacity for learning the notes of other species which 

 makes the Linnet so great a favourite for the cage. In our cold, 

 dull climate, captive males seldom acquire in sprmg the fine crim- 

 son tints on the head and breast ; but abroad, under the influence 

 of warmth, bright sunshine and good food, Mr. J. Young has 

 known them do so, while in Madeira the wild males appear to 

 undergo hardly any eclipse. 



The adult male in breeding-plumage has the forehead and centre 

 of the crown crimson ; rest of the head, nape and sides of the neck 

 mottled brownish-grey; mantle chestnut brown; wing-feathers dull 

 black, with white outer edges which form a conspicuous elongated 

 bar ; upper tail-coverts dark brown, with broad whitish margins ; 

 tail-feathers black, narrowly edged with white on the outer and 

 broadly on the inner web ; chin and throat dull white, striped with 

 greyish-brown ; breast crimson, occasionally with a decided yellow 

 tinge ; belly dull white ; flanks fawn-brown ; bill horn-colour, legs 

 brown. Length 5"5 ; wing 3T5 in. In autumn the bill is brownish, 

 the crimson feathers are concealed by wide grey margins, and the 

 under parts are more striated. The female is rather smaller and 

 duller in colour, with no crimson on the head and breast, and little 

 white on the wings, while both upper and under parts are much 

 streaked with dark brown. The young at first resemble the female. 



