120 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



The song is rather monotonous ; but in Germany it is 

 highly esteemed for its musical powers, particularly for its 

 double trill, which is expressed by the words, " Finkfer- 

 linkfink zischesia harvelalalalaziscutschia" In France, about 

 Orleans, it is supposed to say, "Je suis le fils d'un riche 

 prieur ; " in Normandy, " Qui est ce qui veut venir a Saint 

 Symphorien ; " in Lorraine, " /Y, Fi t les laboreux, fvirions 

 ben sans eux ; " and about Paris, " Out, oui, oui, out, je 

 suis un bon citoyen " (see Swainson's " The Folk-Lore of 

 British Birds "). 



Three other members of this family are occasionally met 

 with in our rambles. The LINNET (Acanthus cannatina), 

 the REDPOLL (Fringilla rufescens), and the SISKIN or ABER- 

 DEVINE will flit across our path, or we may see them hard 

 at work picking the seeds out of the plantains, or feast- 

 ing on the down of the thistle and dandelion and other 

 seeds. 



The linnet generally confines itself to the waste places 

 and commons. It is known as the Grey Linnet in some 

 localities, the Brown Linnet in others dependent on the 

 season-change of plumage. In Scotland it is the Lint- 

 white, and in the mountainous parts of that country its 

 place is taken by the TWITE, or MOUNTAIN LINNET (A. 

 flavirostus), commonly known as the Hill-Lintie or Yellow- 

 Neb Lintie. 



The linnet has some sweet notes : 



" But soft it trills amid the aerial throng, 

 Smooth simple strains of sob'rest harmony ; " 



but its song has been much overrated. 



The REDPOLL (A. linarid) is easily distinguished by its 

 blood-red plumage on the crown of the head and its 

 smaller size. 



The restless little ABERDEVINE or SISKIN (Chrysometris 

 spinus) is seldom seen, except in its migration south, but 

 in the north of Scotland it is better known. It is much 

 more green in colour, has a black head and parti-coloured 

 wing. 



