156 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



exchequer in venturing to pay such a price even for a 

 "perfect" bird, were it to be found. 



The Linnet's nest is lined with wool, and is usually in 

 a bush or tree not far from the ground. The eggs, four 

 or five in number, are of a bluish-grey colour, speckled 

 with red or purple-brown. 



TWITE. 



Linota flavirostris ; Gros-bec de Montague. 

 Mountain Linnet. 



Beak, yellow, upper parts, dark brown ; wings, dark 

 brown, with white margins, noticeable in flight ; upper 

 tail-coverts, red ; breast and lower parts, dull-white ; 

 feet, dark brown. Length, five and a quarter inches. 



A little brown mountain bird, with a long tail, and 

 somewhat forked, is a short description of this seldom- 

 noticed but very interesting bird. 



I have frequently met with it near Tallaght Hill, 

 Co. Dublin, and only there ; but Mr. Ussher tells us 

 that it breeds in all the counties of Ireland, except 

 those of the central plain. 



It reminds one both of the Linnet and the Redpoll ; 

 and its song, frequently given as the bird alights on the 

 mountain-side, though much inferior to that of the 

 Linnet, seems to me more pleasing than that of the 

 Redpoll. 



The nest is generally found in the heather, and the 

 eggs, five or six in number, are distinguished from those 

 of the Linnet by a blue tint. 



To its call-note of " twaite " this bird owes its name. 



