INTHE NORTH OF KENT 89 
attempt to spell. These notes are very differ- 
ent to those of a canary. Nor does it sing 
so noisily. As has often been remarked, we 
find that the bird with the soberest plumage 
has the finest song, the nightingale being 
the example best known to us in this country. 
Linnets are especially fond of furze to nest in. 
The nest is open and cup-shaped and built of 
twigs, grass and moss, with down of seeds, 
horsehair and wool. Four or five eggs, some- 
times six, are laid, and three broods, or even 
four, are raised each year, the first about the 
end of April. The nests are not built high. 
Linnets are fond of keeping together, several 
may be found in a flock even during the breed- 
ing season, but in winter the flocks are large 
and may associate with flocks of chaffinches 
and greenfinches, etc. The birds are widely 
distributed over the British Isles. Though 
some may be found in very varying localities 
almost all through the year, the great number 
go south in October, and some migrate then, 
whilst many come to us in flocks from the 
Continent, chiefly in March. Seeds are their 
