6+ 



BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



LINNET (Li)iota cannabina) 



Local Names. — -Blood Linnet, Brown Linnet, Common Linnet, 

 Greater Redpoll, Grey Linnet (young), Linnet Finch, Lintie, 

 Lintwhite, Red - Breasted Linnet, Red - Headed Finch, Red 

 Linnet, Rose Linnet, Song Linnet, Whin Linnet, Yellow Linnet. 



Haunt. — Commons, fields, and waste lands. 

 'eriod. — April to June. 



Site of Nest. — A furze, blackthorn, or whitethorn bush. 



Materials Used. — Grass, with a hair lining. A neat structure. 



-Five. Bluish-white, lightly spotted with reddish-brown. 



Food. — Weed seeds of various kinds, also buds in Winter. The 

 young are probably fed on insects. 



Voice. — A sweet and brilliant song when heard at its best, and when 

 a number of birds sing in chorus the effect is very pleasant. At 

 other times the song is, to my mind, disappointing. 



Chief Features. — One of our commonest Finches. Largely caught 

 as a cage bird for pairing with a Canary. The male in his best 

 nuptial plumage is a really handsome bird. 



Plumage. — Crimson forehead and centre crown; brownish-grey on 

 rest of head, nape, and neck sides; chestnut-brown mantle; 

 blackish wing-feathers, with white on outer edges, which are 

 conspicuous; dark-brown upper tail-coverts, margined with 

 white; black tail-feathers, edged narrowly with white outer- 

 most and broadly on the inner webs; dull-white chin and 

 throat, with greyish-brown stripes; crimson breast; dull-white 

 belly ; fawn-coloured flanks. During the Winter the crimson 

 feathers are lost in a greyish colour. The female is altogether 

 less conspicuous in colouring and possesses no crimson markings. 

 Length. — Five inches and three-quarters. 



MAGPIE (Pica rustica) 



Local Names. — Chatterpie, Hagister, Madge, Mag, Maggie, Maggot, 



Miggy, Nanpie Pianct, Piet, Poyet, Pye Mag, Pyet. 

 Haunt. — Woods, and open fields where there are trees or tall bushes. 

 Nesting Period. — March to May. 

 Site of Nest. — In tall trees, hedges, and bushes. 

 Materials Used. — Withered shrubs, thorny sticks, dry grass, fibrous 



roots, and clay. The nest is arched over, and there is a circular 



hole on one side. 

 Eggs. — Six i< i Eight. Pale bluish-green, or yellowish, closely freckled 



and Spotted with olive-brown and ash. 

 Food. — Rats, mice, moles, birds, insects, worms, snails, and fruit. 



