THE LINNETS. 45 



Linnets occurs on our coasts, the arrivals from the Continent 

 being decidedly brighter in plumage than our resident birds. 



Habits. Throughout the autumn and winter Linnets are 

 found in flocks, feeding on the stubbles and open ground, and 

 at the former season they are very common in fields near the 

 sea-shore. In the breeding season they are less gregarious, 

 but many pairs may be found in close proximity to each other 

 in gorse covered districts, the gorse-bushes being such a 

 favourite nesting place that in many places the bird is known 

 as the " Gorse " Linnet. It nests also in broom and heather, 

 and sometimes has been known to build its home on the ground. 

 Its song is heard to perfection in the spring, and while the hen is 

 sitting, but during the breeding season the bird is much more 

 shy than at other times of the year. Its food consists almost 

 entirely of seeds, and it is not known to feed its young on 

 insects to the same extent as most of the other Finches. As Mr. 

 Howard Saunders remarks : " The food consists of soft seeds, 

 especially those of an oily nature, such as the various species of 

 flax and hemp ; grains of charlock, knot-grass, and other weeds 

 are also largely consumed, while in winter various kinds of 

 berries and even oats are devoured." 



Nest. Cup-shaped, composed of moss with fine twigs and 

 grass, lined with hair, sheep's wool and a few feathers. 



Eggs. Four to six in number. Ground-colour bluish, with 

 rufous spots confined to the larger end, where they form a ring 

 or cluster of spots varied with overlying lines and streaks of 

 purplish black. In some instances the larger end of the egg is 

 clouded with purple, speckled over with dots and streaks of 

 purplish brown. Axis, 07-075 inch ; diam., o'55-o'6. 



III. THE MEALY REDPOLL. CANNABINA LINARIA. 



Fringilla linaria. Linn., S. N., i., p. 322 (1766) - Lilford, Col. 



Fig. Br. B., pt. xv. (1890). 



Linaria borealis, Macg., Br. B., i., p. 388 (1837). 

 Linota linaria^ Newt ed. Yarr., ii., p. 133 (1877) ; Dresser, B. 



Eur., iv., p. 37, pi. 187 (1877); B, 0. U. List Br B., p, 



53 (1883). 



