156 FIIING1LLID/E. 



and it is perhaps in such neighbourhoods that most of those 

 which stop with us reside until the returning spring. 

 Towards the close of a fine winter's afternoon the various 

 straggling parties that have been foraging all day long con- 

 gregate on the top of some tall tree ' in the sunshine, and at 

 first join in a gentle sort of chirping, presently bursting into 

 a full chorus of song, and then again resuming their single 

 strains continue this performance till the sun is set.* 



The Linnet is generally distributed, as before remarked, 

 over the United Kingdom exception being made as regards 

 Shetland, and is especially common in Ireland. In the low- 

 lands of southern Norway it is pretty common, but becomes 

 scarcer towards the north and is not known to breed beyond 

 lat. 63. In Sweden it does not usually appear much higher, 

 but Johann Wahlberg obtained it at Lulea, and Wheel- 

 wright says that he saw it at Quickjock. The latitude above 

 mentioned seems also to mark off its ordinary limit in Fin- 

 land and Russia, in which latter it is found on the Dvina 

 and so probably to the Ural mountains. Pallas says it is 

 never seen in Siberia, but it is now known to inhabit 

 Turkestan, which at present must be taken as its most 

 eastern extension.! Thence it may be traced through 

 Persia, Circassia, Armenia, Asia Minor and Palestine, 

 where it breeds, to Egypt, where it is a winter-visitant, and 

 Abyssinia. In Algeria and Morocco it is abundant, as well 

 as in the Canaries and Madeira. In the locality last named, 

 .the cocks are said to keep their bright colouring all the year, 

 instead of losing it in winter. Throughout all the rest of 

 Europe, south of the boundary above indicated, it is plenti- 

 fully dispersed, and, except in the most northern parts, is 

 generally to be found at every season, though, as with us, the 

 great bulk of the birds depart at the approach of winter. 



* It is at this time that the combination of sounds resembles the ending of 

 the Redwing's song as before stated (vol. i. page 270). 



f Under the name of Linota fringillirostris Bonaparte described (Monogr. des 

 Loxiens, p. 45, pi. 49) a bird said to come from Nepaul. It appears, however, 

 to be unknown to Indian ornithologists. Some authors refer it to the common 

 Linnet, to which, even if it be a good species, it must be nearly allied. Syrian 

 specimens of the Linnet, it may here be remarked, have been looked on as 

 forming a distinct species and called by Ehrenberg Frinyilla bella. 



