.^^-rl 



~l^\ 



THE MOUNTAIN LINNET, OR TWITE. 



LINOTA MONTIUM. 



Upper plumage dark brown, edged with light brown ; no crimson either on the 

 forehead or breast ; rump of the 'male, tinged with red ; throat tawny brown, 

 without streaks ; breast and abdomen dull white, streaked on the flanks with 

 dark brown ; beak yellow ; feet and claws dark brown ; tail long. Length 

 five inches and a quarter. Eggs pale bluish white, speckled with purple-red. 



Another northern bird, inhabiting the Arctic Regions, 

 Scandinavia, and Russia, and travelling southwards in 

 autumn. In the Orkney and Shetland Islands it is the 

 most common, if not the only, species, and builds its nest 

 among the corn' or heath. It breeds also in Scotland, and 

 has been noticed during the summer months in the 

 northern counties of England. In the countries where it 

 is resident all the year round, it is very destructive to 

 wheat in winter, and to turnips in summer. As soon as 

 the latter plants appear above ground, the bird pulls them 

 up, nips ofi" the seed-leaves, and the field remains strewn 



