108 BRITISH BIRDS. 



build in a whitethorn hedge and amongst honeysuckle ; but in all kinds 

 of country gorse bushes are preferred. The site is usually a convenient 

 fork, where the nest can obtain support by the surrounding branches. 

 Instances of the Linnet constructing its nest on the ground are occasionally 

 met with. The nest is formed in the first place of moss and dry grass, 

 strengthened with a few fine twigs, often those of the gorse, dead and 

 withered, and bound together with wool obtained from the branches, 

 where it has been left by the sheep in endeavouring to force their way 

 through the dense thicket. It is lined with hair, wool, and vegetable 

 down, and sometimes a few feathers. Although it often looks somewhat 

 loosely put together, it will be found on close inspection to be well made, 

 and the cup containing the eggs to be beautifully smooth and rounded. 

 The inside measurement is about two inches across and one and a half 

 deep. It is usually built a few feet from the ground, but sometimes at a 

 much greater height. The eggs of the Linnet are from four to six in 

 number, the latter being the usual clutch. They are greenish white or 

 French white in ground-colour, blotched, spotted, speckled, and streaked 

 with reddish brown and rich purplish brown. Some eggs are much more 

 richly marked than others, and on some specimens the markings are very 

 small, pale, and indistinct. As is usual, the larger end of the egg is the 

 most spotted, generally in the form of an irregular zone. The underlying 

 markings are not very numerous, and on most eggs light and dark over- 

 lying spots occur. On some specimens there are a few streaks of rich brown. 

 They vary in length from '8 to '66 inch, and in breadth from '55 to '5 inch. 

 Eggs of this species and its allies ought to be very carefully identified, as 

 small examples are indistinguishable from large eggs of the Goldfinch, 

 and large examples from small eggs of the Greenfinch. The female 

 sits very closely on her eggs, sometimes allowing herself to be removed by 

 the hand. The Linnet probably in many cases rears two broods in the 

 season. 



In early autumn the gregarious habits of these birds are again assumed, 

 and they keep in flocks throughout the winter. At this season their 

 habits can most readily be observed. They resort to the stubbles and 

 pastures on low-lying lands, or weedy ground near their breeding-places. 

 They are not very shy, but more so than Redpoles, and search for 

 the greater part of their food on the ground. When alarmed they often 

 fly off together to the nearest tree-tops, where they keep up a twitter- 

 ing chorus ; but sometimes those nearest to the observer fly ahead and 

 again alight. Occasionally, in feeding, the flock gets more or less dis- 

 persed, but the birds soon unite again. Linnets generally roost upon the 

 ground or in low bushes near their feeding-places. They do not come to 

 the shrubberies to roost like Bramblings, nor do they seem at all partial 

 to evergreens. The flocks constantly wander from place to place, and 



