The Linnet 



feathers black with white outer margins. Crown of the 

 head and breast deep crimson ; flanks brown ; belly white. 

 Length 5 '5 in.; wing 3 '15 in. In winter the red on the 

 crown and breast is deep brown and the feathers of those 

 parts have broad yellowish margins. The female resembles 

 the male on the upper parts, but the mantle is duller and 

 the white of the primaries is much less in extent. The 

 under parts are yellowish brown streaked with dark brown, 

 and the head is also streaked with brown. 



The young resemble the female, but are paler. 



THE MEALY REDPOLL 



Linota linaria (Linnaeus) 



This species breeds in circumpolar regions far north 

 above the limit of tree growth, wherever a few dwarf birch 

 or willow afford it enough cover for nesting, and is only an 

 irregular winter resident in our islands. It has been sub- 

 divided into various races by systematic writers, on differences 

 which need not concern us here, but although the commonest 

 form met with in these islands belongs, as we would 

 naturally suppose, to the North European race, the Green- 

 land form has also been noticed on several occasions. 

 Wandering through the country in small parties and 

 associating with our native Kedpolls, this species frequents 

 gardens, stack-yards, or still more frequently, the low 

 scrub that may be found in many places along the coast. 

 With us its food consists almost entirely of small seeds, but 



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