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being of a bright carmine red, that many persons 

 can hardly be persuaded that the red-breasted 

 Linnet is merely the common brown Linnet. In 

 summer it is generally distributed in various coun- 

 tries^ in which it is permanently resident. In 

 winter the Linnets assemble in very large flocks r 

 and descend to the sea-coasts, whence, as the 

 severe weather approaches, they resort to the 

 neighbourhood of towns and farm-yards, mingling 

 with other species. They remain in these sheltered 

 places till the spring urges them to pair, when they 

 again seek their upland haunts, resorting during 

 the summer to waste lands and commons in the 

 upper parts of the country, where they breed. 

 The nest, which is generally built in furze, if con- 

 venient, or in some low bush, is formed of moss 

 and stalks of grass interwoven with wool, and lined 

 with hair and feathers. The eggs, of a bluish 

 white, speckled with a purpled red colour, are 

 four or five in number. The voice of the Linnet 

 is strong and mellow, and its song varied and 

 remarkably sweet. 



