104 OUR RARER BIRDS 



To the breezy moors then we will bend our steps, and 

 study the habits of the Twite during its breeding season. 

 We will pass by the Grouse crowing lustily from the heather, 

 and only take a passing glance at the Eing Ousel in his white 

 cravat, as he sits and pipes his loud refrain on the rough walls 

 and rock boulders, and hasten onwards to where the heath is 

 long on the sides of the rough valley, at the bottom of which a 

 mountain stream goes merrily dancing over the big stones. 

 The Twite is by no means a shy bird ; in nine cases out of 

 ten we first see him sitting on the top of a heather bush 

 uttering his peculiar note, which our imagination likens to 

 the bird's name a long-drawn twa-ite. He flits from bush 

 to bush before us, or, suddenly rising into the air, makes a 

 long detour and returns to his old haunt. It is late in spring, 

 and the Twite is therefore full of music. This somewhat 

 resembles the song of the Linnet, but is neither so loud, so 

 sweet, nor so varied. Nevertheless it forms a pleasing relief 

 to the bird's monotonous haunt, and serves to enliven scenes 

 where bird music is by no means plentiful. 



The Twite has visited these moorland wastes for the 

 purpose of rearing its young, and early in May it seeks out 

 a site for the nest. This is generally built amongst the 

 heather, close to the ground, and in many cases on the ground 

 itself. Both birds assist in making the nest, which is a 

 neat structure composed of dry grass, dead twigs of heath, 

 roots, and a little moss, beautifully and warmly lined with 

 rootlets, wool, and feathers, and occasionally with hair and 

 vegetable down. In this warm little nest the female lays 

 four or five eggs, greenish-blue or bluish-white in ground 

 colour, spotted with dark brown and an occasional darker 

 streak. If disturbed at the nest the sitting-bird flits hurriedly 

 away, often hurrying through the tall heather for some 

 distance before rising, and then perching at no great distance 

 to watch the intruder. Uneasily it flits from branch to 



