LINNET. 43 



BREEDING HABITS : The haunts affected by the 

 Linnet during the breeding season are rough, uncul- 

 tivated lands, especially on the borders of moors, gorse 

 coverts, and hedgerows. By preference the bird frequents 

 ground where gorse, broom, brambles, and low bushes 

 occur. The Linnet pairs annually, somewhat early 

 in the season, and at least a month before nest-build- 

 ing is commenced. The nest is made in a variety of 

 situations. A favourite site is amongst gorse or broom ; 

 frequently a sapling fir is selected, and more rarely a 

 crotch in a whitethorn or juniper. In mountain districts 

 the nest is often made among the heather, quite close to 

 the ground ; and instances are on record where it has 

 been found on the ground. Externally the nest is made 

 of a few fine twigs (these are sometimes dispensed with) 

 or dead sprays of gorse, grass-stalks, moss, occasionally 

 a few dry leaves and bits of wool ; internally it is well 

 and warmly lined with hair, wool, vegetable down, and 

 feathers, sometimes one and sometimes another of these 

 materials predominating. The cup is beautifully rounded 

 and neatly finished. As a rule the nest of the Linnet 

 is made but a few feet from the ground, but I have seen 

 nests at a considerable height above it. Both birds assist 

 in its construction. The Linnet is a remarkably close 

 sitter, but glides off the eggs with little demonstration. 

 The cock sings throughout the period of incubation, and 

 often denotes the vicinity of the nest by his habit of 

 perching on some topmost spray near by. 



RANGE OF EGG COLOURATION AND MEASUREMENT : 

 The eggs of the Linnet are from four to six in number, 

 the latter being perhaps the most frequently found. 

 They are pale bluish-green in ground colour, sometimes 

 greenish-white, finely spotted and speckled, chiefly 

 round the large end, in the form of a zone, with deep 

 reddish-brown and paler purplish-brown ; the underlying 



