450 Birds of the Great Glen. [Sess. 



defend their conduct by asserting that every bud attacked 

 contains an insect, yet it is to be feared this is not absolutely 

 correct, and that the little fellows are sinners in this respect, 

 undoubtedly doing some damage to fruit. In consequence of 

 this many are annually shot, although it is a moot-point 

 whether it is worth while to sacrifice such pretty creatures for 

 the sake of a few sour apples that in many instances are not 

 worth the trouble of pulling. Even granting that this accu- 

 sation is correct, the results are not nearly so serious as 

 horticulturists would have vis believe, otherwise how do 

 geans, sloes, &c., flourish and bear fruit, for it is notorious 

 that the bullfinch is fond of those buds for a viand ? Preju- 

 dice dies very hard with some folks, and I remember a 

 gardener who systematically tore down the nests and broke 

 the eggs of hedge-sparrows, as he conceived that they ate his 

 vegetables. Being to a large extent an insectivorous bird, 

 this operation had neither reason nor justification for its en- 

 forcement ; but argument with a person of this kind was out 

 of the question, so nothing could be done but to let him rest 

 in the enjoyment of his ignorance. 



The linnets are represented by the common linnet, the twite 

 or mountain linnet, and the redpole. The first is by far the 

 scarcest, but the other two may be met with constantly. The 

 twite frequents the higher and more muirland districts, and is 

 distinguished from the ordinary species by the fact that it has 

 no red or carmine on the breast or head during the period of 

 incubation, the only trace of this colour being upon the rump, 

 but it is not so bright as that on the breast of the other. 

 The names grey, brown, yellow, rose, and whin linnet all 

 refer to one bird — viz., Linota cannabina — the different desig- 

 nations having originated, in the four first mentioned, from the 

 circumstance of the plumage varying at different seasons and 

 ages, and the last from its fondness for gorse as a haunt and 

 nesting-place. The twite or " heather lintie," as it is dubbed 

 in Scotland, is a gentle and withal a sociable bird, as even at 

 the breeding-time little bands of six or more may be seen 

 playing and feeding together. 



Before passing on to the remainder of the fauna, the follow- 

 ing may be of interest to some of our ornithological members. 

 While upon the muir one day in the month of May, about ten 



