82 The Twite 



The Twite, Mountaiu Linnet, Hill Lintie, or " Yellow-ueb Liutie," as it is 

 variously called, is a frequenter iu summer of the hilly districts and moorlauds of 

 the northern portious of Great Britaiu and Ireland ; but, as winter approaches, 

 it deserts the bleaker regions and wanders in small flocks through the cultivated 

 lowlands in search of seeds of charlock aud other weeds, upon which it feeds : at 

 this season it frequently consorts with the Linnet. 



Lord Lilford says that his acquaintance with this species is chiefly confined 

 to having often met with it on the moors of Scotland, when Grouse-shooting iu 

 August and September. "At that season it is generally to be met with in small 

 family parties of six or eight, flitting about grassy spots amongst the heather, 

 and feediug on various small seeds. It may be distinguished, even at some 

 distance, from the Common Linnet on the wing b}' its lighter make, darker colour, 

 and sharp call-note. In captivity this species becomes very tame, but has not 

 much to recommend it, as the song, though sweet, is short, broken, and of 

 little power." 



The call-note has been described as resembling the word hvah-it of which the 

 name Twite is a fanciful rendering ; on the wing it twitters, somewhat in the 

 fashion of the Linnet ; the song, though inferior, is not much unlike that of the 

 same bird. 



The nest of the Twite is usually built low down iu heather, sometimes even 

 on the ground among grass, or on a rock}^ ledge ; it is also said to occur in 

 bushes, and occasionally in ivy : it is neatly formed of rootlets, or heather inter- 

 mingled with grass-bents, and is lined with wool, hair and feathers, or thistle- 

 down. The eggs number from four to six, usually five, are pale greenish-blue, 

 speckled, spotted, blotched, or streaked with reddish-brown ; they are indistinguish- 

 able from those of the Linnet, though most observers seem to agree in saying 

 that they are more frequently streaked than eggs of that bird. As a matter of 

 fact, if a number of eggs of the Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Twite, and Linnet 

 were indiscriminately mixed, no living Ornithologist could sort them again with 

 any degree of confidence : they all vary in size, depth, and tint of colouring and 

 markings. 



Although I am satisfied that the Twite could, as easily as other Finches, 

 cimiplete its nest in two or three days provided it was ready to la}-, Saxby has 

 recorded an instance in which both sexes were occupied for eight days in completing 

 one : this is often the case at the commencement of the breeding season,* when 

 the birds are in no special hurry, just as with Canaries in the breeding-cage, but 



• Nevertheless Mr. Swailes' experieuce recorded on page S3 proves that, iu coufinemeut, the Twite Iniilds as 

 rapidly as the Canary; the uest being built iu two days. 



