120 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 



would have killed fifteen or twenty, so closely were they 

 packed together. 



I met with another, or perhaps the same flock, about 

 a month later in the year, and not far from the place 

 where I saw them before. In 1854 we were visited by 

 a smaller party, who, like the others, were feeding on 

 the seeds of the alder. These, with the addition of a 

 single one which was shot in company with some linnets 

 and brought to me, are all I have seen. 



No bird is more common with us than the Linnet 

 (F. cannabina). In summer it is scattered all over the 

 heathy tracts of the forest and the cultivated fields ad- 

 joining, and even in the close vicinity of the village. In 

 winter they assemble in large flocks in the stubbles, and 

 I have seen them frequent corn stacks that were erected 

 in the fields, clinging to the sides and picking out the 

 corn. Notwithstanding this, they do good service to the 

 farmer and gardener by feeding on the seeds of many 

 troublesome weeds, such as the thistle, the dandelion, 

 and others of the same winged character. 



Though the heath and gorse bushes on the forest 

 offer innumerable suitable sites for the nest of the linnet, 

 it does not by any means confine itself to such places, 

 but builds in the hedges also, where I have often found 

 its nest. Bolton says the nest of the linnet is lined with 

 "hair, wool, and the down of willows;" it may be so, 

 but I never met with any other lining than wool and 

 hair, with jjeather^or two. 



In the next species, the Lesser Eedpoll (F. linaria), 

 the case is different. It is by^nojmeans ajare bird 

 here ; and I have generally found the nest placed in a 

 low bush of alder or willow. One is now before me, and 

 consists entirely of thin dry bents, woven together with 



