112 LINNET. 



the gorse, the broom, and the sloe. A few build in the south, 

 but not farther than Thetford, Barham, and Calford, Norfolk, 

 so far as I am aware, where Alfred Newton, Esq. has found 

 the nests. In winter they may often be seen on the sea 

 shore, as well as in the stubble fields. 



The Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, curate of Fordingbridge, 

 Hampshire, has sent me the following anecdote of a Linnet. 

 He says, 'In passing a low furze bush, my attention was 

 attracted to a bird which fluttered and fell a few feet before 

 me, as if in a fit. My first impulse was to step quickly 

 forward and pick it up, the former of which I did, but when 

 within about two feet of it, it rose and fluttered on a few 

 yards further. Thinking it was wounded I again attempted 

 to pick it up, when it again appeared to receive a fresh 

 amount of strength, and made another intoxicated sort of 

 progress of a few yards. This it did several times, and I 

 began to doubt if I should catch it after all; when at last, 

 to my great surprise, just as I was near enough to 'put 

 some salt on its tail,' it rose up and flew away, twittering, 

 (laughing at me as I found afterwards,) like the pertest and 

 strongest Linnet in the world. At first I was puzzled to 

 account for its very eccentric behaviour, but it struck me that 

 possibly, like the Partridge, it might have performed the 

 antics described to decoy me from its nest. I therefore 

 returned, and searched the furze bush, where, sure enough, I 

 found it with five eggs, which were still warm from the heat 

 of that body which the faithful little bird had exposed for 

 their preservation; for had I been so disposed, I could, with 

 my stick, without difficulty, have knocked her down. This 

 trait in the character of the Linnet was new to me, and 

 delighted me much.' 



The flight of this bird is quick and undulated a series of 

 curves performed by the alternate flappings and cessation of 

 the motion of the wings. In flocks they glide and wheel 

 about in a manner which, to the ornithologist, is pleasing to 

 behold. On the ground, too, they are quick and sprightly in 

 their movements, advancing by short leaps. 



Its food consists of the seeds of various plants the dan- 

 delion, the sow-thistle, the thistle, rape, flax, and such like. 



The note is soft, mellow, varied, and sweet, so that it is 

 valued, unfortunately for it, as a cage bird, possessing, as it 

 also does, the power to imitate the notes of others, even of 

 the Nightingale; nay, to utter distinct sounds and articulate 



