70 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Habits. Much resembling the migrant Tree Pipit, but 

 not arboreal, confining its attentions to low bushes, from 

 which it frequently rises, singing and returning to same 

 or an adjacent one with expanded wings and tail. Food 

 taken on the ground. Flight rather wild and jerky, 

 somewhat like the Wagtail's. 



Note. Practically indistinguishable from the Rock 

 Pipit, but this species never quits its grass-land 

 haunts. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, spiders, worms, small 

 beetles, and small seeds. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. On the ground, in some cavity concealed by 

 growing herbage. 



Materials. Dry grass, bents, and moss, lined with fine 

 bents, fibres, and hair. 



Eggs. Four to six. Greyish white mottled with 

 olive-brown ; usually a hair-like streak at the large end. 

 Like Rock Pipit's, but smaller. 



LINNET (Acanthis cannabina). 



Well-distributed through Great Britain, except in the 

 more mountainous parts. 



Haunts. Furze-grown commons, uncultivated lands, 

 &c. 



Plumage. Variable according to age, sex, and season. 

 Forehead and centre of crown crimson ; other parts of 

 head and sides of neck brownish grey. Mantle chestnut- 

 brown. Wings blackish with outer edges white, giving 

 a conspicuous bar in flight. Tail-feathers black-edged 

 with white. Chin and throat dull white striped with 

 greyish brown. Breast crimson. Belly sordid white. 

 Bill horn-colour. Legs brown. Length 5| in. In 

 autumn, feathers of crown and breast bordered with 

 grey, almost hiding the crimson. Under parts more 

 striated. Female, slightly smaller, no crimson colour- 



