THE TWITE. 77 



France ; but it seldom goes far south, and its occurrences in Spain, Italy, and 

 Southern Russia, are few and far between." 



In England during the breeding-season the Twite occurs locally in suitable 

 localities from the midlands northwards; in North Wales it is common; in Scot- 

 land and Ireland it is pretty generally distributed, being especially abundant in 

 the west of Scotland, the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetlands. 



The adult male in breeding plumage has the feathers of the crown, nape, and 

 back ruddy olive-brown, with blackish centres and paler edges ; the rump rose-red ; 

 wings dark brown ; the median and greater coverts with paler edges, whitish 

 towards the tips ; the quills with pale edges ; the inner primaries margined, and 

 the secondaries tipped with white ; tail-feathers blackish-brown, the three outer 

 pairs with whitish edges. A superciliary streak, the lores, ear-coverts, and cheeks 

 rufous-brown, the ear-coverts with dusky streaks ; under parts mostly pale tawny- 

 brown, clearest on the throat ; centre of breast and abdomen sordid white, as are 

 the under tail-coverts ; sides of breast and flanks streaked with blackish : beak 

 pale ochre yellow ; feet dark brown ; iris hazel. The female has no rose-red on 

 the rump ; and in width of crown and beak differs as does the Linnet. After the 

 autumn moult this species shows less of the dark centres to the feathers, and the 

 beak becomes paler. Young birds nearly resemble the female, but have somewhat 

 more dusky beaks ; the males, however, show a tinge of rose-reddish on the rump. 



The Twite, Mountain Linnet, Hill Lintie, or " Yellow-neb Lintie," as it is 

 variously called, is a frequenter in summer of the hilly districts and moorlands of 

 the northern portions of Great Britain and Ireland ; but, as winter approaches, 

 it deserts the bleaker regions and wanders in small flocks through the cultivated 

 lowlands in search of seeds of charlock and other weeds, upon which it feeds : at 

 this season it frequently consorts with the Linnet. 



Lord Lilford says that his acquaintance with this species is chiefly confined 

 to having often met with it on the moors of Scotland, when Grouse- shooting in 

 August and September. "At that season it is generally to be met with in small 

 family parties of six or eight, flitting about grassy spots amongst the heather, and 

 feeding on various small seeds. It may be distinguished, even at some distance, 

 from the Common Linnet on the wing by its lighter make, darker colour, and 

 sharp call-note. In captivity this species becomes very tame, but has not much 

 to recommend it, as the song, though sweet, is short, broken, and of little power." 



The call-note has been described as resembling the word twak-it of which the 

 name Twite is a fanciful rendering ; on the wing it twitters, somewhat in the 

 fashion of the Linnet ; the song, though inferior, is not much unlike that of the 

 same bird. 



VOL. ii. O 



