144 THE LESSER BEDPOLE. 



birds. It is very pleasing and surprising to hear a young linnet that is well 

 taught by a nightingale. I have one, whose imitations are as perfect as 

 possible. It amuses me throughout the year, but especially when my night- 

 ingales are silent. 



Linnets may be accustomed to go and come at command, by treating 

 them in their youth, or in the winter, as I have directed for the house- 

 sparrow ; but as they are more timid, it is necessary to be more careful. 



It is common for a male linnet to pair with a hen canary, and their pro- 

 geny can scarcely be distinguished from the grey canary. They sing delight- 

 fully, and learn different airs with great facility. 



It is well known, that among linnets, some are finer warblers than 

 others, and that, as with many other birds, the old ones sing better than 

 the young ; on which account, yellow linnets, being the oldest, are the 

 most valued. 



THE LESSER REDPOLE. 



Fringilla Linaria, LINN^US ; Le Sizeriu, ou Petite Liaotte des Vignes, BUPFON : 

 Der Flachsfink, BECHSTEIN. 



IN its plumage this bird resembles the linnet; but in its 

 actions and shape it more resembles the siskin. It is five inches 

 and one quarter in length, of which the tail measures two and 

 one quarter ; the beak, four lines long, is very sharp and yel- 

 low ; its shanks, eight lines high, are black ; the top of the 

 head is a brilliant crimson ; the upper part of the body is dark 

 brown, spotted with white and rust yellow ; the rump is rose- 

 coloured ; the throat black ; the feathers on the under part of 

 the neck and breast are bright rose-coloured, edged with white ; 

 the rest of the under part is white. The plumage of the fe- 

 male is lighter ; the breast is not rose-coloured, except that 

 when very old it acquires a slight tint, as well as the rump ; 

 the upper part of the body is spotted with white and deep 

 brown, and the breast is rather speckled with the same colours. 

 The latter characteristics serve to distinguish the females from 

 young males, that also are without the rose-colour on the 

 breast, but have the rust-coloured and dark brown back of the 

 older birds. The males, confined to the house, lose, at the 

 first moulting, the fine rose-coloured breast, and, at the second, 

 the crimson of the head, which generally changes to a greenish 

 yellow. I have a male bird, the top of whose head became, at 



