154 FRINGILLID^. 



who are fitted to judge, it has become much scarcer as 

 indeed would naturally follow from the bringing its favourite 

 haunts under the plough but this decrease does not seem 

 to be so general as in the case of the Goldfinch, and, since 

 the Linnet to some extent frequents also enclosures and the 

 outskirts of plantations, there are perhaps few rural parishes 

 in the United Kingdom to which it does not still resort. 

 Though as a species it is found with us all the year round, 

 there is no doubt that a considerable proportion of the birds 

 which pass the summer in England arrive here from the 

 south in spring, while in autumn very large flocks consisting 

 of the bulk of those that have been bred in this country, in 

 addition to the visitors, leave our shores. When congregated 

 before their departure they are eagerly sought by birdcatchers, 

 for they are easily netted, and the cocks always meet with a 

 ready sale, as when taken at that season they soon adapt 

 themselves to confinement and are much esteemed for their 

 song.* Of those captured in spring a large number on the 

 contrary are impatient of imprisonment and die within a 

 short time. The detestable practice of catching them at 

 this season no doubt further accelerates the diminution of 

 the species throughout the country. 



Except when actually breeding, Linnets are usually seen 

 in flocks, roving from place to place, feeding generally on 

 small seeds, particularly those of the cruciferous plants, and 

 are believed to do much mischief at times to crops of cole- 

 worts, but they consume equally countless grains of the 

 obnoxious charlock and knot-grass, while they also confer 

 great benefit on the agriculturist by the destruction of weeds 

 belonging to the order Composites. Their fondness for the 

 seeds of the various species of flax (Linum) and hemp (Can- 

 nabis) has long been known, and has given them their name 

 in several European languages our own and the Latin 

 among others. Some of the Linnets that remain with us 

 throughout the winter seem in time of need to add to their 

 diet such berries as are accessible, and are said even to eat 

 oats among other food. 



* Willughby knew a Linnet which lived for fourteen years in a cage. 



