1 86 TWITE. 



and along the coast of Norway up to about 70' N. lat., but in 

 Sweden it is scarce even in the sub-alpine districts, and it is some- 

 what doubtful if it nests in Northern Russia. On migration it visits 

 Denmark and Northern Germany — sometimes passing in large num- 

 bers over Heligoland — Holland, Belgium and France ; but it seldom 

 goes far south, and its occurrences in Spain, Italy and Southern 

 Russia, are few and far between. In the east, however, from the 

 Caucasus and Asia Minor to Tibet, it is represented by A. brevirostris, 

 which is little more than a much paler form. 



The nest is often placed in heather, or in low fruit and other bushes, 

 sometimes in ivy ; one favourite position in Scotland is among 

 the grass growing on rocks by the sea-shore, and another is beneath 

 a strip of turf which has been nearly reversed in ploughing or road- 

 making; while on Rathlin Island I found one on the ledge of a high 

 cliff, while seeking eggs of the Manx Shearwater. Fine roots for the 

 outside, with an ample lining of wool, a little hair and a few feathers, 

 are the materials employed ; the eggs, usually 3-4, but sometimes 

 6 in number, being pale greenish-blue, blotched with reddish-brown, 

 and rather more inclined to streakiness than those of the Linnet : 

 average measurements 7 by '5 in. Nidification commences about 

 the middle of May, and two broods are sometimes produced in the 

 season. The food consists largely of the seeds of charlock and 

 other weeds, but in the Shetlands the bird is said to be somewhat 

 destructive to the newly-springing turnips and cabbages. Its call- 

 note is indicated by its monosyllabic name. The Twite is usually 

 far more shy than the Lesser Redpoll. 



The adult male in spring has the lores, cheeks and throat reddish- 

 buff ; crown, nape and mantle hair-brown with paler edgings ; wings 

 dark brown, with whitish margins to the greater coverts, inner 

 primaries and some of the secondaries — very noticeable in flight ; 

 rump rose-red; tail-feathers brown, with whitish inner edges to the 

 three outer pairs ; breast and flanks bufifish-white streaked with 

 hair-brown ; belly dull white ; bill pale yellow ; legs dark brown. 

 Length 5"2 5 : wing 3 in. In winter the general appearance is 

 greyer, and the bill is less yellow. The female has no red on the 

 rump ; the bar on the wing-coverts is buff; and the biU is dusky 

 brown at the tip. The young are somewhat duller in colour. 



