106 



VERTEBRATA. 



the Lintie or Lint while, the last two being terms aj)2)lied to it in Scotland more particularly ; in 

 the poetry of Burns, and other sweet singers of the north, these names frequently occur : 



" I wadua gie the Zintie's sang 



Sae merry on the broomy lea, 

 For a' the notes that ever rang 



From a' the harps o' minstrelsie. 

 Mair dear to nic, where bush or breer 



Aniiuig the pathless heather grows, 

 The Lintie's wild sweet note to hear, 



As on the ev'nin' breeze it flows." 



The Linnet is a permanent inhabitant of Middle and Southern P2urope, frequenting the sea-shore 

 in mid-winter. 



The Mealy Redpole, or Red-Poll, L.canescens,is &ve and a quarter inches long; it lias a mixture 

 of dark and light brown above; beneath pale brownish-white, streaked with brown ; crown crimson ; 

 Yarrell says it feeds on the seeds of forest trees, and De Kay on berries ; it is distributed through- 

 out the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America ; found, though rarely, in England, where it 

 is sometimes called Stone-Redpolc. It appears occasionally in the United States as far south as 

 New York and New Jersey. 



The Lesser Redpole, L. linaria, is four and a quarter inches long; a mixture of dark and 

 light brown above ; breast red ; under parts brownish-white ; feeds on the buds of trees. It is a 

 hardy northern species, found in both continents, inhabiting even Lapland, Greenland, and Spitz- 

 bergen, and is a permanent resident of the Fur Countries. In the winter, numbers of them migrate 

 southward, proceeding in the L'nited States as far as Pennsylvania, at this time moving in consid- 

 erable flocks ; in Europe it proceeds south as far as Rome and Sicily. This and the preceding 

 are arranged by Audubon and De Kay under the generic name of Linaria. 



The Mountain Linnet, X. montium, is five inches long, the tail being of unusual length; dark 

 and light brown above ; dull brownish-white beneath ; feeds on small seeds ; inhabits Europe 

 generally ; moves from the northern regions in winter to the south in flocks with sparrows and 

 snow-buntings. It frequently repeats the note twite, ttvitc, whence this word is one of its popular 

 English names. 



THE COMMOX GOLDFIXCH OF EIROPE. 



THE FINCHES. 



Genus CARDL'ELIS : Carduelis. — This includes the Common Goldfinch or Thistle-Finch 

 of Europe — Chardonneret of the French — C. clegans, five inches long; top of the head black; 

 above brown ; beneath white. It has a gay plumage, lively habits, and an agreeable song, and is 

 a general cage favorite ; it frequents gardens ; builds its nest in a thick bush ; eggs four to five. 



