The Food of Some British Wild Birds. 



LINNET. 



Linota cannabina (Linn.). 



I have from time to time received complaints about this bird, 

 it has, therefore, been included in the present investigation. 



Archibald (4) states that when very abundant they ' ' do 

 considerable damage to turnips, rape, and similar crops, by feeding 

 on their seed, which they attack when newly sown, and also, where 

 the crop is grown for seed, at harvest time. With this exception 

 they are harmless, for the amount of corn taken by them is com- 

 paratively trifling. The seeds of flax and hemp are eagerly sought 

 by the linnet, and it devours quantities of weed-seeds, including 

 those of the dock, sorrel, knotgrass, charlock, groundsel, ragwort, 

 chickweed, and plants allied to the deadnettle. Numerous insects 

 and a few berries also form part of its diet, and it is, therefore, a 

 bird which may well be encouraged, except in occasional circum- 

 stances." 



Theobald (109) states: "it is often harmful in hop gardens 

 with the greenfinch. Where present in large numbers it becomes a 

 great pest, feeding on turnip, swede, rape, cabbage seed, and also 

 where the crop is grown for seed. Flax and hemp are especially 

 destroyed. 7 ' 



none. 



Newstead (92) examined only two specimens, and Florence 



\ 



My own work embraces thirty-nine post-mortems of adult, and 

 ten of nestling birds. 



Post-mortem Records. 



