Linnets eat Insects. 7 



held aloof, and among returns from all counties, from 

 Dover to Aberdeen, only three spoke in praise of the 

 sparrow.''' 



And this, though the Linnet by systematic ornith- 

 ologists is set down as the most persistent seed-eater 

 of all the finches. Mr. Howard Saunders says that 

 " the Linnet's food consists of soft seeds, especially 

 those of an oily nature, such as the various species of 

 flax and hemp ; grains of charlock, knot-grass, and 

 other weeds, are also largely consumed, while in 

 winter various kinds of berries and even oats are 

 devoured." Dr. Bowdler Sharpe affirms that " the 

 Linnet is not known to feed its young on insects to 

 the same extent as most of the other finches." f 



When bringing up the young, the linnet in some 

 cases, at all events, has recourse very largely to small 

 insects. 



The self -same process is working itself out in 

 America as in Great Britain. We might multiply 

 extracts here to prove it, but these will come with 

 more effect, falling in at their proper places. Here, 

 however, are the words of one of the most recent 

 authorities : 



" When we had forests and woodlands edged with 

 belts of shrubbery, swamps with masses of thickets, 

 when on the roadsides and along the fences trees 

 and bushes overgrown with vines and other climbing 

 plants grew in abundance, we had birds everywhere 

 and in plenty. They limited the increase of insects, 

 but now that the birds are gone, insects have no 

 enemies and can increase to unlimited numbers. All 



* Spectator, May 13, 1899. 

 t Handbook, p. 45. 



