BOLD IN DEFENCE OF ITS YOUNG. 251 



sion that they would sing better if their attention was not 

 diverted by outward surrounding objects. 



Stanley, in his ' Familiar History of Birds/ relates an 

 incident which illustrates very forcibly the affection of the 

 Linnet for its young : 



Timid as birds are, attachment to their young will frequently 

 change their very nature, and inspire a boldness and confidence in 

 these little creatures, which calls for respect and admiration. What 

 can be more interesting than the affection of the two Linnets we are 

 about to mention? A nest, containing four young ones scarcely 

 fledged, was found by some children, who resolved to carry them 

 home, for the purpose of rearing and taming the young birds. The 

 old ones, attracted by their chirping, continued fluttering round the 

 children till they reached the house, when the nest was carried up 

 stairs to the nursery, and placed outside the window. The old birds 

 soon afterwards made their appearance, approached the nest, and fed 

 the family, without showing alarm. This being noticed, the nest 

 was soon afterwards placed on a table in the middle of the apartment, 

 and the window left open. The parent birds came boldly in, and 

 fed their offspring as before. Still further to put their attachment, 

 to the test, the nest and young ones were placed within a bird-cage ; 

 still the old ones returned, entered boldly within the cage, and sup- 

 plied the wants of their brood as before, and, towards evening, actu- 

 ally perched on the cage, regardless of the noise made around them 

 by several children. This continued for several days, when an un- 

 lucky accident put an end to it. The cage had been again set on the 

 outside of the window, and was unfortunately left exposed to a sud- 

 den and heavy fall of rain ; the consequence was that the whole of 

 the young were drowned in the nest. The poor parents, who had so 

 boldly and indefatigably performed their duty, continued hovering 

 round the house, and looking wistfully in at the window, for several 

 days, and then disappeared. 



Mudie says, 



In the flocking time, against which the male has lost the red on 

 the breast, Linnets fly very close and crowded, but with a smooth 

 and straightforward flight. On the ground they hop, and have not so 

 much command of themselves as Chaffinches, and they accordingly 

 spend more of their time on the wing. They wheel about in masses, 

 and perch on trees, and though they have no song in the winter, they 

 all chirp at the same time. When the weather begins to get warm, 

 their short but pleasant song commences, before they retire to the 

 breeding-grounds, or the plumage of the male changes ; and though 

 their song is not so full then as after they have betaken themselves 

 to the wilds, the crowds that are in song on the same tree make a 

 lively concert. 



