506 FRINGILLID.E. 



broader inner edges of white ; tail rather forked ; chin and 

 throat a mixture of brown and grey ; breast Vermillion red, 

 with a few pale brown feathers intermixed ; belly and 

 under tail-coverts pale wood-brown ; the flanks darker yel- 

 lowish brown ; the under surface of the tail-feathers when 

 spread out exhibits a series of grey and white longitudinal 

 bars ; legs, toes, and claws, brown. 



The whole length of the bird five inches and three quar- 

 ters. From the carpal joint to the end of the wing-feathers, 

 three inches and one-eighth : the first three quill-feathers 

 nearly equal in length, but the first rather the longest ; the 

 fourth feather one quarter of an inch shorter than the third. 



In autumn and winter these birds have no red colour on 

 the head or breast ; the beak is brownish horn colour ; the 

 feathers of the head, cheeks, and ear- coverts, dark brown, 

 with lighter greyish brown edges ; back, wings, and tail- 

 coverts, dark brown, the margin of each feather being lighter 

 in colour, but with less of the rich chestnut colour observed 

 in summer ; quill and tail-feathers as in winter ; throat, 

 breast, belly, and under tail-coverts, pale Avood-brown, 

 with conspicuous longitudinal streaks of dark brown on the 

 breast. 



Males do not in confinement acquire the fine red colour 

 which pervades the breast of a mature wild bird ; and a fe- 

 male has been taken bearing a fine red breast, but this is not 

 generally the case. The particular plumage, however, as- 

 sumed during the breeding season by many species being a 

 periodical indication of constitutional and sexual vigour is 

 borne in degree by both sexes. 



The female Linnet is a little smaller than the male, 

 and has the upper surface of the body rather lighter in 

 colour, and more varied with dark brown patches ; the under 

 surface of the body slightly tinged with rufous, and streaked 

 with brown. 



