MOUNTAIN LINNET. 599 



heath. In the winter it appears in large flocks, frequently 

 in company with Sparrows and Snow Buntings, and infests 

 the corn-yards." Our southern bird-catchers say they can 

 tell immediately if there are any Mountain Linnets among 

 the flocks of small birds around them, by their peculiar 

 note, which is considered to resemble the word " twite," in 

 its sound, and hence the name of Twite, by which, as well 

 as by that of Mountain Linnet, this bird is very generally 

 known. Its food consists of any sort of seed of small size. 



Our Mountain Linnet inhabits Denmark, Norway, Swe- 

 den, and indeed Scandinavia generally, but is said to be 

 rare in Russia, particularly in the eastern portions. It is 

 observed periodically on its passage in Germany and France, 

 and some are said to remain and breed in the mountains of 

 Switzerland. It is found in Provence, at Genoa, and even 

 as far south as Rome in winter, but retires to the northern 

 mountains to breed in summer. M. Temminck says our 

 bird is found in Japan, where it is known by the name of 

 Zuzume. 



The beak is yellow, and hence the term flavirostris has 

 by some authors been attached to this species ; the irides 

 hazel ; the forehead, crown of the head, ear-coverts, neck 

 behind, back, and wings, are of two shades of brown, the 

 darker colour pervading the middle of the feather, the 

 lighter wood-brown colour on the edges ; the greater wing- 

 coverts only tipped with pale wood-brown, forming one bar 

 across the wing ; quill-feathers brownish black, the prima- 

 ries with narrow edges, the tertials with broader margins of 

 pale brown ; the rump red ; upper tail-coverts like the back 

 in colour ; tail-feathers brownish black, with narrow white 

 external edges, and broader light brown inner margins ; 

 tail deeply forked ; chin and throat uniform reddish yellow 

 brown, without streaks, but streaked on the sides of the 

 lower part of the breast and flanks with dark brown ; lower 



