LESSEE REDPOLE. TWITE. 231 



tints on the head and breast, which properly denote 

 their breeding plumage. A male in my aviary netted 

 in November, 1863, and chosen from many for the 

 beauty of its plumage, did not lose its pinky hue until 

 the autumnal moult of 1864. Once lost, however, by the 

 actual shedding of the feathers, the red breast is not 

 re-assumed, and even the red poll changes to a dull yellow, 

 the effect no doubt of an artificial state of existence. 

 Like the mealy-redpole and the little siskins, this species 

 becomes a most engaging pet in confinement; indeed, 

 can hardly be said to be otherwise than tame, from the 

 moment of its capture, so fearless and contented does it 

 appear under any circumstances. I have frequently seen 

 these little creatures, like the true " draw- waters," 

 fastened to an open perch by one leg, and with a little 

 bucket and chain attached to the drinking glass, raising 

 their own supplies of water to a level with their beaks. 



LINOTA MONTIUM (Temminck). 

 TWITE. 



The Twite is, I believe, only an occasional visitant 

 to Norfolk, on its migratory course, passing southwards 

 in autumn, and again re-appearing for a brief space in 

 the spring. In this neighbourhood, at least, judging 

 from the few birds in any season netted by our bird- 

 catchers, it rarely appears in any numbers, and is 

 decidedly scarce in comparison with the siskin or either 

 species of redpole. A few were taken near Norwich 

 during the extremely severe weather that prevailed in 

 January, 1861, and from that time until the middle of 

 October, 1864, when some four or five pairs were also 

 captured close to the city, I had neither seen nor heard 

 of them hereabouts. A small flock observed at Eaton in 



