80 BRITISH BIRDS, THER EGGS AND NESTS. 
with greyish purple and red brown, and sometimes a little 
streaked with the same.—Fig. 10, plate IV. 
104. SISKIN—(Carduelis spinus). 
Aberdevine.—Only a winter visitor; and though not very un- 
- common at that season in many parts of Britain, yet it has been 
known to nest with us so very rarely that it seems scarcely 
requisite to give any account of either nest or eggs in this place. 
105. COMMON LINNET—(Linota cannabina). 
Linnet, Grey Linnet, Red Linnet, Brown Linnet, Whin 
Linnet, Linnet Finch, Red-headed Finch, Greater Redpole, 
Rose Linnet, Lint-white, Lintie—No wonder school-boys and 
country boys had, and have, three or four different names for this 
one bird (according to the differences of plumage due to age, sex, 
or season), when even naturalists made two species of it. The 
male in his full plumage, with red poll and rose breast and 
bright brown plumage, is a handsome bird, and, compared with 
the female or the young, a very “ fine bird” indeed. It is com- 
mon enough in most districts, and pretty sure to be met with 
where there is much furze. The nest is frequently to be found 
in the midst of thick furze covers; but like Mr. Hewitson, I 
have found it commonly in thickish thorn-hedges, and very often 
in small and single furze bushes. It is made of small twigs and 
bents and moss, and often lined with a copious cushion of wool 
merely; at other times, with some hair and vegetable down, 
The eggs vary greatly in size, as well as in colour and markings, 
but usually they are of a pale bluish-white ground, speckled with 
red of different shades, brown to purple. They are four, five, 
and sometimes six in number.—L%g. 11, plate IV. 
106. MEALY REDPOLE—(Zinota canescens). 
Only a winter visitor to this country, and in varying numbers in 
