PASSERES. 



LlNOTA CANNABINA (LilinseUS*). 



THE LINNET. 

 Linota cannabina. 



From tbe great changes undergone by the males of this 

 species at different seasons of the year, it was long before 

 the earlier British naturalists fully admitted that what were 

 known to them as the Red Linnet and the Grey or Brown 

 Linnet were the same bird in different plumages, but now 

 for many years no reasonable doubt on that score has existed ; 

 though the conditions, under which the bright red colouring 

 of the breast and part of the head of the cock is donned and 

 doffed, may be still deemed open to discussion and awaiting 

 further investigation. 



The Linnet is a very well-known species, existing in great 

 numbers on most of the uncultivated lands of this country, 

 preferring especially those that are more or less overgrown 

 with furze. Of late years, in the opinion of many observers 



* Fringitta cannabina, Linnaeus, Sysfc. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 322(1765). 

 VOL. II. X 



