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TWITE. 



MOUNTAIN LINNET. 



Linaria montana, SELBY. 



FringUla flavirostrts, 



Linaria. Linum Flax. Montana Of, or belonging to 

 mountains. 



THIS bird is found in Europe, in Russia, but least exten- 

 sively in an easterly direction, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, 

 arid as far south as Switzerland, France, Germany, and Italy. 

 In Asia also, in Japan, according to M. Temminck. 



The Twite is plentiful in the northern parts of England, 

 and in Scotland, Ireland, the Hebrides, and Orkney, through- 

 out the year. 



In Yorkshire it breeds in abundance on all the high moors 

 near Halifax, also on Thorne Moor; and near Doncaster, 

 Leeds, and York is likewise met with. The Rev. R. P. Alington 

 lias procured specimens from the neighbourhood of the sea, 

 in Lincolnshire. 



Indigenous in the north, they are only winter migrants 

 towards the south. 



Towards the commencement of winter they unite into 

 flocks, sometimes of large extent, and frequently, in illustra- 

 tion of the adage that 'birds of a feather flock together,' 

 in company with those of kindred species or habits, with 

 whom they visit the farm-yards. They are not of a shy 

 nature, but if disturbed betake themselves to any tall trees 

 that may be near, or to some distant field. When spring 

 arrives, they leave their winter haunts, and disperse over the 

 hilly tracts for their summer sojourn. 



Their flight is rapid and undulated, and they wheel about 



