THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



W.I. i, If. F. 



LINNET 



One of the most fopular cage-birds. The so-called Red-brown and Grey Linnets are but fhaset of plumage of the same species. The bird 



in the right-hand corner is a greenfinch 



brown, whilst the white parts are less pure in tone. The full dress of the male is rarely 

 seen in the British Islands, save in specimens procured from Scotland ; for in winter, when the 

 snow-bunting is chiefly captured, the plumage is altogether more rufous. 



Unlike the buntings so far described, the REED-BUNTING is to be found only in marshy 

 places, but in suitable localities it may be found in the British Islands all the year round, being 

 as common a species as the corn-bunting, and therefore not calling for special description here. 



The eggs of the buntings are remarkable for the curious scribble-like markings which 

 cover them, and serve readily to distinguish them from those of any other British bird. 



CHAPTER XVI 



LARKS, TITMICE, HONEY-EATERS, AND THEIR KINDRED 



CONFINED almost entirely to the Old World, where they are represented by more than 

 one hundred species, many of which have undergone considerable specialisation in the 

 matter of plumage, so as to enable them to live in desert regions, the LARKS constitute 

 a well-marked group, into the characters of which we need not enter here. 



The best-known member of the group is the SKYLARK. Common throughout the British 

 Islands, and of sober coloration, no bird is more universally beloved, and this largely on 

 account of the sweetness of its song, which is second only to that of the nightingale. Poets 

 and prose-writers alike have sounded its praises, many in passages that will be remembered as 

 long as our language lasts. The skylark is one of the few birds which sing while on the 

 wing; the peculiar nature of the flight at this time all must have watched, entranced the 

 while by the beauty of the song. 



