156 Bird- keeping. 



often supposed to be the same bird. It lives principally 

 in the northern counties, and is plentiful in Norway 

 and Sweden, and only visits the southern counties of 

 England occasionally. 



The MEALY LINNET (Fringilla borealis), sometimes 

 called the Mealy Redpole, is another variety. So is 

 the LESSER REDPOLE (Fringilla linaria), which re- 

 sembles the Linnet in the colour of its plumage, but 

 is more like the Siskin in its size and shape, and in 

 its characteristics. It is a very pretty bird, easily 

 tamed, and exceedingly sociable and affectionate, and 

 a very amusing cage bird, agreeing well with Linnets, 

 Goldfinches, Canaries, and Siskins, and may be taught 

 to perform many clever feats, but its song is merely a 

 low twitter. It may be fed on the same food as the 

 Linnet, with the addition of elderberries, of which it 

 is very fond. 



The HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus}.1\\\$ 

 bird seems equally at home in crowded cities and in 

 the open country, and is remarkable for its constant 

 attachment to man and his habitations. It follows 

 him throughout Europe, Northern Africa, India, and 

 even to the passes of the Himalaya Mountains. The 

 Sparrows spoken of by travellers in Palestine, and de- 

 scribed as frequenting the Valley of Cashmere in flocks, 

 appear to be of the same species as our Sparrow. It 

 is a pretty bird when free from the smoke with which 

 it is often begrimed, but it is not attractive as a cage 



