AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 199 



previously quoted concerning the Lesser Eeclpoll, 

 informs me that many Twites visited the neighbour- 

 hood of Northampton during the early winter of 1880, 

 and I gather from his letters that he does not consider 

 it as an uncommon autumnal visitor in that part of 

 the county. In general habits this bird much re- 

 sembles the Common Linnet, but its distribution 

 during the breeding-season in our Islands is much 

 more local, as it especially affects open moorlands, 

 and often nests on the ground in these localities, and, 

 as a rule, only appears in the wooded and cultivated 

 lowlands as an autumnal bird of passage. Our own 

 acquaintance w^ith the Twite, or, as it is often called, 

 the Mountain Linnet, is chiefly confined to having 

 often met with it on the moors of Scotland, York- 

 shire, and Cheshire, when Grouse-shooting, in the 

 months of August and September. At that season it 

 is generally to be met with in small family-parties of 

 six or eight, flitting about grassy spots amongst the 

 heather, and feeding on various small seeds. It may 

 be distinguisherl, even at some distance, from the 

 Common Linnet on the wing by its lighter make, 

 darker colour, and sharp call-note. In captivity this 

 species becomes very tame, but has not much to 

 recommend it, as the song though sweet is short, 

 broken, and of little power. We have never person- 

 ally found the nest of the Twite, which is said to be 

 built of fibrous roots, or twigs, grass, moss, and wool, 

 and usually lined with feathers, hair, or fur ; the eggs 

 are generally five, and very closely resemble those of 

 the Common Linnet. 



