LINARIA MONTANA. 415 



The linnet lives twenty-five, the lark thirty years. I knew of 

 one that lived twenty years in a cage, and only died lately. 

 The general colour is grey, streaked with brown ; back, breast, 

 and wing coverts reddish-brown ; under parts yellowish-white ; 

 female similar, but fainter. In summer the forehead and breast 

 assume a bright carmine — brighter as the bird grows older, but 

 often disappears after moulting in the cage ; iris and legs brown. 

 It is 5 j inches long by 9J in extent of wings. 



The Mountain Linnet. 



(Linaria Montana.) May. (Fringilla Flavirostris.) Linn. 



"The rose upon the brier, by the waters running clear, 

 May have charms for the linnet or the bee ; 

 Their little loves are blest, and their little hearts at rest, 

 But my true love is parted from me." — Burns. 



This bird is called the twite, from crying twite, twite, 

 especially in winter, and known from the last by this note when 

 together (so, lint-white or lint-twite). Poets often mention the 

 lint-white. Burns says — 



And- 



" The Hntwhite in the hazel braes, 

 Delighted rival ithers lays." 



" The lintwhite in his bower 

 Chants o'er the breathing flower." 



" But hawks will rob the tender joys 

 That bless the little lintwhite's nest ; 

 And frost will blight the fairest flowers, 

 And love will break the soundest rest." 



It is about the same size, and plentiful in upland districts, 

 where it breeds, also in the Orkneys and Shetland ; abundant in 

 Norway and Sweden, and found within the Arctic circle. It is 

 rare about St Andrews except in winter. The nest is similar 

 to the last — heath, roots, and dry grass, lined with wool, fibres, 

 hair, and feathers. Eggs also similar but paler and less, as the 

 bird is less — 5J by 8J. As it is chiefly confined to the upland 

 districts, its nest is generally amongst long heath or furze, 

 sometimes on the bare mountain, sometimes amongst corn — but 

 there is no hard and fast line with our flighty favourites. I 

 have got them among whins and furze on Kinkell braes in May. 



