LINNET. 155 



In the pairing season, the thickest clumps of furze are 

 generally frequented, and early in spring the cocks may be 

 seen rapidly flitting from bush to bush, always perching on 

 the higher or outer sprays, and singing almost incessantly.* 

 Their strain is commonly in a soft and low tone, but it has 

 some notes of a singularly shrill sweetness, that, at intervals 

 of the greatest irregularity, mark the confused warbling 

 which is the result of two or more rival performers more 

 bent upon shewing off their own prowess than blending 

 their voices in harmonious concert. The nest is usually 

 formed of fine twigs and fibres outside, mixed with moss 

 and grass- stalks, and is lined with wool, hair or vegetable 

 down, and sometimes a few feathers are added. It is gene- 

 rally placed in a low bush, but often in a hedge and occa- 

 sionally in a tree at ten or twelve feet from the ground, 

 while other less usual sites have been recorded. The eggs 

 are from four to six in number, measuring from *76 to *64 

 by from *56 to '49 in., and are of a french- white, more or 

 less tinged with green or blue, generally spotted, speckled 

 or blotched with light reddish-brown and pale purplish- red, 

 but sometimes the markings are almost entirely absent, 

 while at others they are either suffused or collected into bold 

 and dark spots. The Linnet appears to breed twice in the 

 season, the first eggs being laid in April. 



When the broods are reared and the summer is over the 

 different families unite to form large flocks, which may be 

 seen careering vaguely over the country the individuals 

 composing each flock constantly crossing and recrossing one 

 another in flight. At this time they often resort to the more 

 enclosed districts, visiting alike pastures, stubbles and fal- 

 lows, in search of such small seeds as they can find, and 

 roosting at this season on the ground. Many also following 

 their migratory instinct repair to the coast, where they feed 

 on the seeds of the sea-purslane and other maritime plants, 



* As songsters few birds are perhaps more variable than Linnets a fact well 

 known to " the fancy". Some can only repeat two or three unconnected notes, 

 which may be of the harshest tone, while others have a veiy considerable com- 

 pass, and sing in a continuous manner. Neville Wood inclined to the belief 

 that they improved in song the second or even the third year. 



