106 RUDDY-BREASTED BIRDS. 



returns northward in spring. The Brambling re- 

 sembles its congener the Chaffinch in the brilliancy 

 and boldness of its markings, but by its white lower 

 back — very conspicuous during flight — may be at 

 once distinguished from that bird. Feeding chiefly 

 upon beech-mast and alder-seeds during its sojourn 

 with us, the Brambling is to be sought in the neigh- 

 bourhood of beech woods, where they collect in small 

 flocks, often in the company of Chaffinches. The 

 song of the Brambling is not heard in this country. 



CHAFFINCH — 6 inches ; lower back and rump olive-green 

 instead of white. 



LINNET.— Plate 49. 5f inches. General colour 

 above, ruddy-brown streaked with darker brown, 

 except nape and sides of neck, which are grayish ; 

 wing and tail feathers dark, with white edgings ; 

 chin and throat white, streaked with brown ; fore- 

 head, crown, and breast crimson ; belly bufly-white ; 

 bill conical, lead -colour. Resident. 



Eggs. — 4-6, bluish-white, spotted with light red- 

 dish-brown and relieved by a few dark spots and 

 streaks; '7 x -53 inch (plate 12.5). 



Nest. — Of twigs, dry grass, and moss, lined wiili 

 wool, hair, seed-down, and feathers, and placed usually 

 in gorse-bushes, but sometimes in thorn-hedges. 



Distribution. — General throughout the British 

 Isles, except in mountainous tracts of Scotland, 

 where it is replaced by the Twite. 



As the female Linnet has not the crimson forehead 

 and breast of the male, and they are present in the 



