THE LINNET 
but in autumn and winter it assembles into flocks and a 
more cosmopolitan existence is passed. Like the Redpole 
it obtains much of its food at these seasons upon the 
ground, resorting to rough wastes and weed-grown fields 
where an abundance of small seeds can be obtained. A 
marked characteristic of these bands of Linnets is their 
garrulousness, and often some tree-top literally jingles 
with a concert of twittering cries, the combined musical 
effect of which is very pleasing. In addition to numerous 
small seeds, this species in summer subsists largely on 
insects and larve. Early in spring the flocks break up 
into pairs and scatter over the nesting-areas, and then the 
males may be seen sitting on the exposed sprays of the 
gorse and other bushes warbling their sweet little love- 
song. At this season the Linnet looks his best, and he is 
fond of displaying his charms on any bare twig, evincing 
little fear of man. ‘This species usually rears two broods 
in the season, eggs for the first being laid in April, for the 
second in June. The bird pairs annually, and the favourite 
site for the nest is amongst gorse and broom. ‘The nest 
is made of dead sprays of the gorse, fine twigs, dry grass, 
and moss, and neatly lined with hair, wool, vegetable 
down, and feathers. In this beautifully rounded cup 
the hen lays‘ five or six eggs, pale bluish green, spotted 
and speckled, mostly in a zone round the larger end, with 
dark reddish brown and paler brown and grey. ‘The 
male often betrays the vicinity of the nest by his persistent 
habit of singing close to it. 
The adult male Linnet has a crimson patch on the fore- 
head extending to the crown ; the remainder of the head, 
as well as the nape and the sides of the neck, are dingy 
grey ; the back is reddish brown, paler on the rump, and 
streaked with dull black; the wings are dark brown 
margined with dull white, the wing-coverts and innermost 
secondaries with darker centres; the upper tail-coverts 
and tail are black, the latter with white margins, broadest 
M I 77 
