THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



in May and June, usually making its home amongst the 

 heather. This nest is composed externally of twigs, dry 

 grass stems, moss, and roots, lined with vegetable down, 

 feathers, and wool. The five or six eggs are pale bluish 

 green, spotted, speckled, and frequently streaked with 

 reddish brown and grey. 



The adult male Twite is very similar in general colora- 

 tion to the Linnet, but its longer tail gives it a slightly 

 larger and more slender appearance. It has, however, no 

 crimson on the head or breast, but the rump is suffused 

 with crimson, as in the Redpole ; the breast and flanks are 

 streaked, and the white in the tail is represented by pale 

 brown margins. Bill yellow in summer, grey in winter ; 

 tarsi and toes dark brown ; irides brown. Length 5 

 inches. The female has no crimson tinge on the rump, 

 and the nestling resembles her in general coloration. 



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