BULLFINCH. 55 



but usually they are of a pale bluish-white ground, speckled witn 

 red of different shades, Drown to purple. They are four, five, 

 and sometimes six in number. Fig. 11, plate IV. 



106. MEALY REDPOLE. (Linota canescens). 



Only a winter visitor to this country, and in varying numbers in 

 different years. Many were obtained in one or two of the counties 

 adjoining the Metropolis some years since; but no instance, 1 

 believe, is known of its remaining with us to breed. 



107. LESSER REDPOLE. (Linota linaria). 



Common Redpole, Lesser Red-headed Finch, Rose Linnet. 

 This is a winter visitor to the southern counties of England ; 

 but remains all the year round in Scotland and some parts of 

 north England. The nest seems to be built in some situation 

 not too high above the ground ; for instance, in a bush or stunted 

 tree ; and is made of moss and bents, and like some of those of the 

 Common Linnet, with willow-down and the like. There are usually 

 four or five eggs deposited in it, their colour " pale bluish-green, 

 spotted with orange-brown, and principally at the larger end." 

 The ground -colour seems to vary to greenish-grey, and the spots 

 to become more of a reddish tinge. Fig. 12, plate IV. 



108. MOUNTAIN LINNET. (Linota montium). 



Twite, Twite Einch, Heather Lintie. A bird seldom, if ever, 

 seen much south of the Humber. It is known to breed in York- 

 shire and the northern English counties as well as in Scotland, 

 the Hebrides, &c. As its name leads one to infer, it is usually 

 found in the neighbourhood of hill or fell. The nest is built on 

 the ground, among the short benty grass of the hill-side or the 

 dwarfling of similar localities, or even among longer heather, and 

 is made of the materials afforded by such herbage and moss, and 

 lined with fibrous roots, wool and hair. The eggs vary from 

 four to six in number, are almost white with the faintest blue or 

 green tinge, spotted with red, brown or dark purple, with some- 

 times a few streaks of a lighter red tinge. Jig 13, plate IV. 



109. BULLFINCH. (Pyrrhula mlgaris). 



Olph, Alp, Hoop, Red Hoop, Nope. One of our really hand- 

 some birds, and as familiar to many of us as other and even com- 

 moner birds, by his frequent occupancy of a cage. "Piping 

 Bullfinches" are not very unusual even in this country. The Bull- 

 finch is also one of those birds who have long been laid under pro- 

 scription, for the mischief lie is assumed to do to the buds of fruit 

 trees. Like as rewards used to be customarily paid in hosts ol 



