304 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



under 70^, and the sun not sliining, it is sure to 

 kill them." The wild birds which can at all times 

 seek out the stream, probably know better at 

 what seasons to bathe ; and, at any rate, they can 

 fly and hop about till warmth and reaction are 

 procured, and can rub themselves quickly among 

 the leaves, and remove some of the moisture very 

 easily. The writer just referred to remarks, " I 

 think the desire of washing belongs most strongly 

 to the birds which migrate to hotter climates in 

 winter; that of dusting to those which remain 

 with us ; a substitution wise, as all the dispensa- 

 tions of the Creator; for if the little wren in 

 winter were to wash in cold water instead of dust- 

 ing, it must perish with the chill." 



The Mountain Linnet,* or Twite [Lmota mon- 

 tmm), is very nearly allied to the common linnet, 

 but is more slender in form. Its name of Twite 

 originated in a note which it often utters, and it 

 is called also Heather Linnet, and by the Scotch, 

 Heather Lintie. It is a common bird in moun- 



* The Mountain Linnet is five inches and a quarter in length. 

 It much resembles the preceding, but is more slender, and the 

 tail is longer. It has no red on the head or breast, but the rump 

 is tinged with this colour in summer; the throat is tawny 

 brown. 



