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western, and midland districts of England, but of 

 very rare occurrence in the northern parts of the 

 kingdom. In Scotland it does not appear to have 

 been seen at all, but it is partially distributed in 

 Ireland. It is a delightful songster, surpassing 

 the Sky-lark in the melodious richness, though 

 not in the variety, of its notes. It frequently 

 perches on trees and bushes, which the kindred 

 species is not accustomed to do. It breeds very 

 early in the spring, placing its nest on the 

 ground, under the shelter of a tuft of grass or a low 

 shrub. The nest is formed of dry grasses and 

 stalks, lined with finer materials of the same kind, 

 and usually with a few hairs intermixed. The eggs, 

 four or five in number, are of a pale yellowish 

 colour, marked with blotches of grey and umber 

 brown. These birds do not congregate in flocks 

 during winter, like the Sky-lark, but seem to re- 

 main in families during that period, from five to 

 seven being generally observed together. 



LINNET, COMMON. 



GREY, BROWN, OR RED-BREASTED LINNET. 

 FRINGILLA CANNABINA, Lin. 



The colours of the male of this species are so 

 much brighter in summer, the forehead and breast 



K 2 



