186 FRINGILLID^. 



Genus LINAKIA, Bechst. 



The eggs of the Twite, Linnet, and Eedpolls are so closely alike 

 both in size and coloration that thej' cannot be separated, and they 

 require to be very carefully authenticated at the time they are 

 taken from the nest. They also resemble the eggs of the Greenfinch, 

 Goldfinch, and Siskin. 



The ground-colour varies from bluish-white to pale blue or 

 bluish-green. The broader half of the egg is rather thickly, the 

 smaller half sparingly, speckled, spotted, and blotched with reddish- 

 brown, purplish-brown or deep chocolate-brown, and underlying 

 pinkish-brown or lilac. The markings vary in number, size, and 

 intensity of colour in different specimens, and on some eggs the 

 undei'lying markings are altogether absent. A few examples are 

 plain white or blue. Some specimens in each series exhibit lines 

 of a dark colour similar to those on the egg of a Bunting, and these 

 occasionall}' form a wreath or zone round the larger end. 



Linaria flavirostris (Linn.). 



Fringilla flavirostris, Thien. Fortpjlanz. ges, Vog. p. 405, tab. xxxv. 



tig. 11, a-c (1845-.54) ; Seehohm, Brit. Birds, ii. p. Ill, pi. 13 



(1884) ; id., Eggs of Brit. Birds, p. 245, pi. 57. fig. 4 (1896). 

 Linota montium, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 20. lig. 14 (1855-63). 

 Fringilla montium, Hewitson, Eggs of Brit. Birds, i. p. 203, pi. li. fig. iii 



(1856). 

 Linota flavirostris. Dresser, Birds Eur. iv. p. 59 (1876) ; Ussher Sf 



Warren, Birds Ireland, p. 66 ( 1900) ; Dresser, Man. Pal. Birds, pt. i. 



p. 313 (1902). 

 Acanthis flavirostris, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xii. p. 236 (1888) ; Reg, 



Eier Vog. Mittelenrop. p. 325, pi. 40, figs. 6-10 (1900). 

 Acauthis flavirostris flavirostiis, Hurtert, Vd(/. Pal. Faun. pt. i. p. 76 



(1903). 

 Carduelis flavirostris, Jourd. Eqgs Europ. Birds, p. 56, pi. 11. figs. 6-10 



(1906). 

 Linaria flavirostris, Sharpe, Hand-l. v. p. 236 (1908). 



The eggs of the Twite vary from -Gl to "77 in length, and from 

 •47 to "55 in breadth. 



4. Co. Waterford, Ireland, 22nd 



April {R. J. Ussher). 

 6. Co. Waterford, 10th 

 [R. J. U.). 



5. Co. Waterford, 10th 



{R. J. U.). 



5. Co. Waterford, 12th 



{R.J. U.). 



6. Co. Waterford, 17th 



{R. J. U.). 

 6. Co. Waterford, 26th 

 {R.J. U.). 



