186 FRINGILLID&. 
Genus LINARIA, Bechst. 
The eggs of the T'wite, Linnet, and Redpolls are so closely alike 
both in size and coloration that they cannot be separated, and they 
require to be very carefully authenticated at the time they are 
taken from the nest. They also resemble the eggs of the Greenfinch, 
Goldfinch, and Siskin. 
The ground-colour varies from bluish-white to pale blue or 
bluish-green. The broader half of the egg is rather thickly, the 
smaller half sparingly, speckled, spotted, and blotched with reddish- 
brown, purplish-brown or deep chocolate-brown, and underlying 
pinkish-brown or lilac. The markings vary in number, size, and 
intensity of colour in different specimens, and on some eggs the 
underlying markings are altogether absent. A few examples are 
plain white or blue. Some specimens in each series exhibit lines 
of a dark colour similar to those on the egg of a Bunting, and these 
occasionally form a wreath or zone round the larger end. 
Linaria flavirostris (Linn.). 
Fringilla flavirostris, Thien. Fortpflanz. ges. Vog. p. 405, tab. xxxv. 
fig. 11, a-c (1845-54); Seebohm, Brit. Birds, 1. p. 111, pl. 13 
(1884) ; zd., Eggs of Brit. Birds, p. 245, pl. 57. fig. 4 (1896). 
Linota montium, Baedeker, Ever Eur. Vog. tab. 20. fig. 14 (1855-63). 
Fringilla montium, Hewitson, Eggs of Brit. Birds, i. p. 203, pl. li. fig. 111 
(1856). 
Linota flavirostris, Dresser, Birds Eur. iv. p. 59 (187€); Ussher § 
Warren, Burds Ireland, p. 66 (190); Dresser, Man. Pal. Birds, pt. 1. 
p. 318 (1902). 
Acauthis flavirostris, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xii. p. 236 (1888); Rey, 
Iver Vog. Mitteleurop. p. 325, pl. 40. figs. 6-10 (1900). 
Acanthis flavirostris flavirostris, Hartert, Vog. Pal. Faun. pt. i. p. 76 
(1903). 
Carduelis flavirostris, Jourd. Eygs Europ. Birds, p. 56, pl. 11. figs. 6-10 
(1906). 
Linaria flavirostris, Sharpe, Hand-l. v. p. 256 (1908). 
The eggs of the Twite vary from ‘61 to *77 in length, and from 
‘47 to ‘55 in breadth. 
4. Co. Waterford, Ireland, 22nd Seebohm Coll. 
April (R. J. Ussher). 
6. Co. Waterford, 10th May Seebohm Coll. 
(Rok US. 
5. Co. Waterford, 10th May Seebohm Coll. 
(RES: Os). 
5. Co. Waterford, 12th May Seebohm Coll. 
(rd U.) 
6. Co. Waterford, 17th May Seebohm Coll. 
(REIS). 
6. Co. Waterford, 26th May Seebohm Coll. 
(CPR a 06. 

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