The Haunts of Linnet and Goldfinch. 171 



as I surely was in the neighbourhood of the nest. 

 It did just cross my mind that I ought to search 

 for that nest,' but I gave up the idea almost at 

 once, and bade adieu in peace to my new friends. 

 They had shown themselves to me without fear, 

 and they should have no reason to dislike me. 



Beyond the woods where these birds live, we 

 come out on scrubby fields, often full of thistles, 

 and spotted with furze-bushes. These fields are 

 the special favourites of the Linnets and Gold- 

 finches ; the Linnets are in great abundance, the 

 latter, since the Wild Birds' Act came into 

 operation, by no means uncommon in autumn. 



We cannot but pause again and again as we 

 make our way through the gorse and brushwood, 

 for the little Linnet in his full summer dress is 

 hardly less beautiful than the Goldfinch, and all 

 his ways and actions are no less cheering and 

 attractive. The male birds differ much, perhaps 

 according to age, in brilliancy of plumage ; but 

 a fine cock Linnet in full dress of crimson breast 

 and crown, white wing-bars and tail-feathers, and 

 chestnut back, is to my thinking as splendid a 

 little bird as these islands can show. I can never 



