4o6 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



our colfmri'd j)lati', luivc dip crinisoii on llu' 

 I'orehcad, and bul little (in the lufasl. and this 

 is largely concealed by the light andier-coloiiri d 

 fringe to each of the feathers ; they are liy 

 some then called Grey Linnets. \Vhen wild. 

 after the second moult, the male obtains the 

 crimson hue faintly on the I'oreliead, bul much 

 more ijronounced on the breast than in the 

 lust year ; the sandy-brown colour of the breast 

 si(U'S and flanks also puts on a richer hue. and 

 il is then known as a Brown Linnet. Willi 

 the third moult the forehead and breast assume 

 a bright carmine tint, and the bird is then 

 known as a l^ose Linnet. 'I'his carmine or 

 crimson linl on the forehead and bieast is 

 brightest and rieliesl on all male birds of 

 whatever age during the spring and breeding 

 season, the andjer-lipped nuu'gins of the feathers 

 which cloud il al other periods having then 

 faded off, leaving the crimson fidly exposed ; 

 the whole of the body colour assumes a nuich 

 brighter hue during the Ijreeding season. The 

 coloured plate dei)icts a male bird in breeding 

 jjlumage, and it must be noted these remarks 

 as to changes of colour only aiijdy to biids in 

 theii- wild stale. With the tirsi moull in 

 ca|ili\ily the crimson colour on the breast and 

 head disappears, and does not return ; bul I he 

 brown body colour is a richer line when the bird 

 is in lireeding condition than at any other 

 period, e\en in capli\ily. 



The Linnet has a jileasiug song of great 

 variety, beautifully modulated and flule-like, 

 and so sweet that it heads the list of lirilisli 

 Finch songsters, and its talents lia\e made 11 

 an especial favourite as a cage-bird. 1! is als(], 

 like the (Ihalliucli, in great demand as a conlesl 

 singer and as an exhibition bird. The culoured 

 plate shows an average coloured Linriel in ils 

 wild plumage, but many birds displa\ iimiic 

 sandy-brown on llie breasl, liiis being quile 

 c()\ered with bul jusi the tainlesl shade ot 

 liglil in Ihe centre. l''or exhibilioii birds Hie 

 less (he display of this whil ish-bulT on Ihe 

 up]ier portion of the cliesl. and Ihe liriLjIiler 

 and richer Ihe brown above and below, willi 

 plenty of dark brown siripes on Ihe breasl and 

 sides running well down Ihe Hanks, Ihe lieller. 

 A good margin ot while lo Ihe ouler- web ol 

 the iirimaries of Ihe wing and Ihe lliroal niiil\ 

 pencilled, gives a furllier sel-cd) loa bii'd. These 

 ])oints all well iironounced. ((Uiiiled with ;iood 

 size and shape, perfect |)lnmage and condilion, 

 with steadiness, conslilule an exhibition bird. 

 The female dilTers from the male in Ilia! il has 

 no crimson on the breasl or- head in ils wild 

 stale, and the sand\-browii on Ihe breasl Is 

 much ))aler. 'I'he siripes arc ot a dull. dusk> 

 tint, and Ihe lieu does not carry so rirucli wiiile 

 on the outer web of the primaries. 



The Linnet becomes excei'diugly altaehed lo 

 those who feed and lend it. and. as with the 

 olliei' I'inches. is exlremely erratic in ils choice 

 (d food, excepi Ihal all show a preference for 

 hemp and rape. The former seed, however, is 

 much too fattening, and should be given very 

 sparingly, just a few seeds as a fit-bit, esjiecially 

 as the Linnet is rather a greedy bird and apt 

 to overfeed itself. 'I'jie majoi'il>' do well on a 

 diet of equal jiarts of teazle, (jei'inan and 

 ICnglisli rape, with a little linseed, canary, and 

 golden pk'asure. together with a sup|)ly of the 

 var-ious wild seeds. The Linnet is pailicularly 

 fond of shepherd's purse, dandelion, charlock, 

 knotgrass and knapweed, and a supply (d these 

 should be giverr in llieir succulent slate when- 

 ever proeurahle, as well as dry during Ihe 

 winter. They should have free use of the bath, 

 and Ihe cages advised for Ihe Goldlinch. There 

 is no necessity to band-rear this bir-d. 



The Mealy Red])(dl. LinnUt Uiuiria [Kcivlon], 



is a winter migranl, bul somewhat erratic in 



numbers. In the autumn and 



The Mealy ^vi„u.,- of 1910-11 thev appeared 



Redpoll. ... 1, 1 " , ', , • 



m (luite large Hocks, wlirlsl m 



some other year's ft'W were seen heri', I hough 

 general Ihroughoul Nor-|liern lurr-ope. lis 

 liabils and food are similar lo lli(is<' ot Ihe 

 Lesser Kedpoll, with which it freipreiils Ihe 

 birch and alder trees, which ])rovi<le llieir 

 chief food. In shajie it is similai' lo Ihe Lesser 

 species, but considerably larger, and ils general 

 colour much li^hlei'. Tlie back and general colour 

 abo\e ar'e a light brown-grey; the imder-parls 

 are whilish-luill', the male bird ha\ing a riili 

 rose-pink tint on the br-easl, forehead and 

 I'ump in ils wild slale. II also has the li.^lil 

 wing-bars ami black bib (d Ihe Lessei- lledpdil. 

 The female dilTers li(im the male in riol ha\ing 

 Ihe rosy linl iirr Ihe foi-ehead. br'easl. or- rump, 

 is smaller, darker abo\e, and the breasl and 

 Hanks are more heavily slriped. II, therefore, 

 makes the bel;er- exhibilion bird, as good mark- 

 ings anil a large shapely bib are impoi'lant 

 lealu]-es in Ibis lespecl. ciuubirred willi jierfecL 

 plumage, prim, smart a|)|iearance and sleactincss. 

 The .Mealy F.edpoll has a til tie chatleriiig song, 

 bul li\-ely, engaging ways. It does well on Ihe 

 diel recommended for Ihe Linriel, willi a llllle 

 niger seed added twice a week, and retpiires 

 similar cages lo those advised for Ihe Siskin. 

 Till' Mealy IU>d|)oll can be safely placed in an 

 a\iarv with oilier birds. 



The Lesser Hed|)(dl. I. inula rujrsccns {Scwion). 

 is a lesideiil, bul ils numbers art- reinforced by 

 large aulumri and s])ring niigra- 

 lidUs ti'our i;ur(i|ie. II is local 

 during Ihe breeding seasnri. 

 Usually selecling retired spols; we lia\e seen 

 quile a number breetling in a sin.d! triangulai 



The Lesser 

 RedpoU. 



