COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 19 



LINNET. (R. Finches.) 



Size. Slightly smaller than Sparrow. 



Colour. Male: head ash-grey, forehead and breast 

 crimson, throat yellowish-white with dusky streaks, 

 back and wing-coverts chestnut-brown, quills black 

 edged with white, showing as a white streak when wing 

 closed. Tail-feathers black, edged with white. Tail 

 forked. Female : browner and without crimson on 

 forehead or breast ; upper parts streaked with dusky. 

 Breast and under parts sandy streaked with brown. 

 In winter the male bird loses the crimson on head and 

 breast, and becomes much duller all over. 



Note. The Linnet has a pleasing song, and some 

 musical call-notes with a curious metallic twang. 



Distinguishing Feature. The crimson on forehead 

 and breast (with the whitish throat above the latter) 

 chestnut on back, forked tail with white edging, and the 

 musical twitter heard as the birds follow each other 

 down the road in front of you, as is often their habit. 



Nest. In hedges or bushes, often in gorse. Moss, 

 bents and wool, lined wool and hair. 



Eggs. Bluish-white with reddish spots, generally at 

 larger end. 



Haunts. Fields. 



MAGPIE. (R. Crows.) 



Size. Smaller than Rook. 



Colour. Glossy black above, patch on each shoulder 

 white, throat black, rest of under parts white. Tail long 

 and wedge-shaped, glossy green, black and purple. 



Note. A harsh, grating cry. 



Distinguishing Feature. This handsome black-and- 

 white bird with the long tail can hardly be mistaken. 

 When in flight the white inner webs of the quill-feathers 

 flash out. 



Nest. A large structure made of sticks, having a 

 roof of the same material, leaving only a small opening. 

 Lined grass, &c. Built in thick thorn hedge or tree. 



Eggs. Greenish -white, thickly spotted and speckled 

 with greenish-brown 



Haunts. Fields. 



