286 MOUNTAIN LINNET, OR TWITE. 



with the last, though perhaps selecting the more 

 upland districts, when a choice can be obtained, 

 but, in few, if any instances, appearing with the 

 same regularity, or in such abundance. They 

 are known to the southern bird-catchers by their 

 cry, and the difference in this was in fact the first 

 thing that drew our own attention to them in the 

 south of Scotland, their manners being in other 

 respects similar to those of the last. Their nest 

 is described as being placed in bushes of whin* 

 and heath.f In the localities where we have 

 observed it, the heath where it was placed grew 

 with considerable rankness, or the thick arid 

 varied Alpine brush and herbage which clothed 

 the shelving rocks and precipitous banks of the 

 coast, furnished it with a secure and well sheltered 

 concealment. The young were seen in Suther- 

 landshire fledged, having left the nest, and abte 

 to make short excursions before the middle of 

 June. The nest and eggs are both very similar 

 to those of the last. The call of the Mountain 

 Linnet, during winter, is a sharp single note, 

 closely resembling the pronunciation of its com- 

 mon name of " Twite." The song during the 

 breeding time is pleasing, and of the same gene- 

 ral character with that of the common Linnet; it 

 Is often sung from a perch on some exalted rock, 

 and at times when fluttering above the spot or 

 shelve which was supposed to contain its nest. 

 In Ireland Mr Thompson states it to be partially 



* J. D. Salmon in Loudoifs Magazine, 

 t Low, Dunn. 



