284 COMMON GRAY, OR BROWN LINNET. 



reared from the nest. The song is continued in 

 confinement. 



In addition to the mainland, the Common 

 Linnet extends sparingly to Orkney and Shetland.* 

 In Europe, in suitable localities, it ranges from 

 north to south, though we are not aware of the 

 particular districts where it most abounds or fails. 

 Smyrna is given as a habitation, and Japan is 

 stated by Temminck as possessing it. 



In the breeding plumage, the adult male is a 

 beautiful bird ; the forehead running back upon 

 the crown, and the breast, are bright carmine 

 red, the feathers having a shining lustre, the 

 throat and neck yellowish white, streaked with 

 brown. The cheeks, occiput, and neck, are 

 brownish gray, upon the hind head having the 

 feathers darker in the centre ; the back, scapu- 

 lars, and wing-coverts, chestnut brown, shading 

 into a paler tint on the rump. The quills are 

 brownish black, edged with white on the outer 

 webs ; the tail of the same colour, having the 

 outer webs entirely white at the base, and the outer 

 half of the inner webs of the same colour. The 

 flanks, centre of the belly, and under tail coverts, 

 pale chestnut red. In the female, the carmine of 

 the head and breast is wanting, and the upper 

 and under plumage is different shades of umber 

 brown, having the centre of the feathers darker. 

 In winter, also, all trace of red on the plumage is 

 lost, the feather which the carmine patch occupies 

 * Low. 



