THE LINNET. 



absent. In fact, as Yarrell says, perfect 

 specimens are not often met with, and 

 the carmine cap and breast are generally 

 replaced by brownish lake-red. 



Some adult male Linnets have lemon- 

 yellow breasts, and in Germany are con- 

 sidered old birds and the best singers. 



The female is a trifle smaller than the 

 male and lacks the red on the top of the 

 head and breast. 



This species is distinguished from the 

 Lesser Redpole by having no white bar 

 on the wings and no black upon the chin, 

 and from the 

 Twite , with 

 which it is 

 likely to be con- 

 fused, by the 

 facts that it 

 has a shorter 

 and less deeply 

 forked tail and 

 the male lack- 

 ing the red on 

 his rump. 



Last spring I 

 spent two days 

 on a Surrey 

 common pho- 

 tographing the 



LINNErs NEST AND EGGS 



239 



