1 62 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



Still keeping to the furze we shall be sure sooner 

 widely or later to come across the LINNET (Fringilla 



distributed. 7 . x , * . i , x 



cannabina), during the spring and early summer. 

 The cock - birds are now resplendent in their 

 wedding finery, and their carmine breasts are very 

 conspicuous as they sit upon the yellow bloom- 

 decked sprays. The Linnet is a sweet and 

 persistent singer, and all through the spring he 

 makes his haunt melodious with his tuneful song 

 and his musical twitterings. The nest is built 

 higher up in the branches of the furze, often 

 very easily discovered, and is made of dry 

 grass, dead branches of the furze, and often 

 pieces of wool, lined with hair, feathers, wool, and 

 vegetable down a perfect little picture of rustic 

 neatness. Six eggs are laid in this tiny cradle, 

 bluish green in ground colour, speckled with dark 

 brownish red and gray. The female sits the 

 most, brooding very closely over her charge. As 

 soon as the young are reared the old gregarious 

 habits are resumed, and the furze coverts are 

 deserted for the fields where the winter is passed. 

 Linnets live principally on insects in spring and 

 early summer, but for the remainder of the year 

 seeds are almost their chief support. The flocks 

 of Linnets do not disband until the last days of 

 March, and at that time the males may often be 

 heard warbling in concert as they sit on the tree- 

 tops. 



south coast The rare and local DARTFORD WARBLER 

 surrey?' (Sylvia firovincialis) is another bird of the gorse 



Oxon, 1-1^1 i r i f ' -l 



Worcester, thickets, but only found regularly in certain 

 Der c b e y! er favoured districts. Here the greed of collectors 



South Yorks. , . , , , . -, 



and severe winters have rendered it much rarer 

 than was formerly the case. Its note is sufficient 



