COMMON LINNET. 147 



THE COMMON LINNET. 



LINOTA CANNABINA. 



Gealan-lin. 



I DO not know a more pleasing sight to the ornithologist than a 

 group of Common Linnets, collected in the spring time, and sunning 

 themselves on the top of some tree late in the afternoon of a clear 

 day, just as the sun gilds everything with a fine mellow light. At 

 such times, and in calm weather, the notes of these little minstrels 

 are heard at a great distance, and their movements easily observed 

 on their resting place being approached. Some, it may be, are 

 preening their feathers, others sitting with puffed-out plumage, 

 while the minority are warbling a few enjoyable strains, sugges- 

 tive of a lullaby to sing the whole assemblage to sleep. In a 

 moment every bill is withdrawn from its work of feather dressing, 

 and a tremulous burst of bird music is heard ringing from the 

 branches such an effect, indeed, as might be brought about by a 

 treeful of tiny bells shaken by a sighing breeze. 



In the remoter Hebrides, where there are no trees on which to 

 perch, the linnets make choice of some sheltered bank exposed to 

 the sun's rays, and there they recline towards evening to practise 

 their singing for the coming summer, making the very ground re- 

 joice with them as they utter their harmonious twitterings. The 

 passer-by in his rambles through these bleak solitudes cannot but 

 wonder at the fairy-like notes issuing from the usually dull and 

 stony heath; for although he may notice one or two birds perched 

 on the surrounding rocks, he is not prepared to see so many in the 

 congregation he has disturbed as they suddenly burst into the air 

 before him. The islands of Lewis and Harris are frequented by 

 linnets, and also North Uist and Benbecula. On Lewis, the 

 plantations near Stornoway afford them good shelter; but in the 

 other localities they live entirely among the heather, in which they 

 make their nests. They are also very common over the whole of 

 the inner islands. 



I have observed in some parts of Ayrshire that linnets are 

 gregarious to some extent even in the breeding season, both on the 

 sea shore and in the pebbly beds of rivers and smaller streams, 

 which they frequent at certain hours, coming and going together 

 in flocks with apparent regularity. 



