198 I HE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



the nest is generally to be found. In the winter 

 months these birds resort to our stubbles and may be 

 seen flitting in small flocks in search of seeds from 

 place to place, seldom, so far as my own observation 

 goes, joining company with other birds, and, curiously 

 enough, almost always roosting on the ground. The 

 song of the Linnet at its best is exceedingly sweet 

 and pleasant, but varies greatly in individual birds, 

 as does the summer dress of the males, some of which 

 assume a brilliant rosy red upon the head and breast, 

 whilst in others the new colour is a dull red-brown ; 

 and in a footnote in the fourth edition of Yarrell's 

 ' British Birds ' will be found mention of a variety in 

 which the breast is of a fine lemon-yellow colour. 

 The most brilliantly coloured Linnets with which I 

 have met were in the north of Spain in the early 

 summers of 1867 and 1876, and we also procured a 

 very brightly coloured male in the little-known island 

 of Scarpanto in 1875. This species is abundant in 

 all parts of Europe with which I am acquainted, as 

 also in Algeria and Tunis. In captivity the Linnet 

 thrives and sings admirably. I was acquainted with 

 one of these birds which had been caged for nearly 

 nine years, and appeared to be in good health, and 

 many cases of a much longer imprisonment, with 

 apparently perfect health and vigour, are on record. 



89. TWITE. 



Linota montium. 



So far as our own experience goes, this bird is an 

 irregular and uncommon visitor to Northamptonshire, 

 only making its appearance with us in very severe 

 weather ; but Mr. W. L. Chapman, whom I have 



