THE LINNET. 



Description Docility. 



THE LINNET. 



THIS favourite bird which is universally ad- 

 mired for the melody of his voice, is in length, from 

 the point of the bill to the end of the tail, five 

 inches and a half long, and usually weighs about 

 ten drachms. The bill bluish-grey, the eyes ha- 

 zel, the upper parts of the head, neck, and back 

 are of a dark reddish brown, the edges of the 

 feathers pale ; the under parts are of a dirty red- 

 dish white ; the breast is deeper than the rest, 

 and iti spring becomes of a very beautiful crim- 

 son; the sides are spotted with brown; the quills 

 are dusky, edged with white; the tail brown like- 

 wise, with white edges, except the two middle 

 feathers which have no margins; it is somewhat 

 forked; the legs are brown. 



The linnet is so much esteemed for the sweet- 

 ness of his singing, that, by many persons, he is 

 thought to excel all small birds. He has cer- 

 tainly a curious fine note of his own, little infe- 

 rior to the most celebrated birds, and may be 

 taught likewise to pipe, whistle, or the song of 

 any other bird; but as his own is so good, that 

 trouble is unnecessary. He is, however, very apt 

 in learning, and if brought up from the nest, will 

 take the woodlark's or canary-bird's song to per- 

 fection. In some instances it has been said to 

 pronounce words with great distinctness. 



The cock linnet may be known, either old or 



