THE GREY LINNET. 295 



of France called Pinson, Pinion, Grinson and 

 Quinson, and is the ScMld-vink of the Germans. 

 The ancient British, like the (xermans, had a re- 

 ference to its note in their name, and called it 

 Wine. Besides the country names which have 

 been already noticed, it is termed spink, twink, 

 skelly, shell-apple, horse-finch, copper-finch, 

 scobby, shilfa ; and is in many villages better 

 known by these names, than by that of chaffinch. 

 The walk among the yellow gorse of the heath 

 is made delightfid by the song and movements of 

 the linnets there. As our old poet Michael Dray- 

 ton sings : — 



" And now the mirthful quires with their full open throats 

 Unto the joyful mom so strain their warbling notes, 

 That hills and valleys ring, and even the echoing air, 

 Seems all composed of songs about them everywhere." 



The common Linnet* [Linota cannohina) is La 

 Linotte of the French WTiters, and bears the pretty 



* The Common Linnet is five inches and three quarters in 

 length. Head and neck greyish-brown, the feathers of the crown 

 tipped with red ; back and wing-coverts chestnut ; wing-quills 

 and tail black edged with white ; under parts light brown ; breast 

 bright red ; beak lead colour ; feet brown. In winter the red of 

 the crown and breast disappears, and the latter is streaked with 

 brown- The female also wants the red hue at all times. 



