LINNET. 155 



heath-side on the hills of Achill, when the entire bosom 

 of the Atlantic appeared one molten sheet of silver 

 prismed with the rainbow reflections of the setting sun, 

 and suddenly heard, breaking the solemn silence of the 

 place, fifty or a hundred Linnets singing in one united 

 chorus a burst of seraphic melody. The shadow of the 

 sea-eagle floating homeward to his eyrie never disturbed 

 them ; but their minstrelsy rung out heart-thrilling until 

 the sun had left but a broad glare on the horizon." 



Mr. Ussher says that the chanting together of 

 Linnets in flocks takes place from January until March, 

 when the proper song begins. 



The call-note of the Linnet sounds to me much like 

 the word " chottuc," quickly pronounced, to which it 

 adds occasionally a wild, rich note as it flies. 



Mr. Frank Buckland, in his very interesting Notes on 

 White's Selborne, gives the following as the London 

 bird-catchers' version of the Linnet's song : 



" Hepe, hepe, hepe, hepe, 

 Tollaky, tollaky, quakey, wheet, 



Keep, pipe, chow, 

 Heep, tollaky, quakey, wheet, 



Lug, orcher, wheet." 



" The Toy Linnet is a bird that has been taught to 

 sing by the Titlark, Woodlark, or Yellow Hammer, and 

 only a very few take the perfect song. Perfect Toy 

 Linnets are said to be worth any sum of money you 

 like to ask. 15 to 20 would be readily given for a 

 good one ; it is said, however, that there is not a perfect 

 bird in London at present." I fear that our Irish 

 fanciers, although quite as enthusiastic as their English 

 brethren, would be hardly justified by the state of their 



