AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 197 



eastern counties than in the south. As I have never 

 myself met with a nest containing eggs which I could 

 positively identify as belonging to this species, I must 

 refer my readers to the very full and interesting 

 details given in the fourth edition of Yarrell's ' British 

 Birds.' This bird is such a common and deservedly 

 favourite cage-bird that any description of its song 

 and habits in captivity appears to me unnecessary. 



Since writing the above I have been obligingly 

 informed by Mr. W. L. Chapman, of Northampton, 

 that he has twice met with nests of the present species 

 in this county. In a letter dated January 29, 1881, 

 he states that " the first instance was about twenty 

 years ago, in a gooseberry-bush near the General 

 Asylum, Northampton. The other was in a hedge 

 that surrounds Brampton Bushes, about three miles 

 from Northampton. There were five eggs in this 

 nest, as high in the hedge as a man could reach. 

 When the hen was put off she flew round calling, 

 and was soon joined by the cock bird ; they continued 

 flying round together till she went on to the nest." 



88. LINNET. 



Linota cunnabina. 



This bird, which is known as Brown, Grey, and 

 Keel Linnet, though well known and common in our 

 district, is by no means one of our most abundant 

 representatives of its family, being a species which 

 particularly affects open commons and furze brakes, 

 in which sort of localities our part of the county is 

 somewhat deficient; wherever furze is found, how- 

 ever, there we may be pretty certain to find the 

 Linnet in the spring, and there is the spot in which 



