LINOTA FLAVIROSTRIS. 105 



Europe in March and April, returning in large flocks during 

 September and October." Fader. 



The Common Linnet is very plentiful on the Spanish side, 

 especially during the winter months. Great numbers remain to 

 breed, nesting in April, mostly in scrub on the sides of the hills. 

 Upon one occasion a pair built on an olive-bush in my garden at 

 Gibraltar. 



The adult males are, as a rule, far more brightly coloured than 

 English specimens. 



Adult male. General colour above reddish brown ; forehead and breast 

 rich crimson ; rump paler than back ; wing-coverts uniform chestnut-brown, 

 like the back, without white edging ; throat whitish. In winter the red 

 colour is obscured by pale edgings to breast-feathers, which wear off. 



Female. Has no red on head or breast ; sides of face dark ashy, like the 

 head ; bill dusky. 



Young. Like female, but spotted. Length 5^-6 inches. 



113. Linota rufescens (Vieillot). The Lesser Redpole. 



This bird is not mentioned by Favier, but is included by 

 Mr. Drake in his list of the birds of Morocco. 



On the Spanish side of the Straits it can only be considered a 

 very rare and irregular winter visitant like the Twite. 



Adult male. Above light brown, streaked with blackish brown ; fore crown 

 carmine ; chin black ; throat and breast pink ; rump dusky brown, tinged 

 with crimson and streaked with brown ; wing-coverts tipped with rufous 

 buff, forming a double wing-bar. 



Female. Like male, but only red on the head. In winter the pink colour 

 is much hidden by pale edges to the feathers. 



Young dull coloured, without any red or pink. Length 4 inches. 



114. Linota flavirostris (Linngeus). The Twite or Mountain- 



Linnet. 



I have no record of the occurrence of this Linnet on the 

 Moorish side. In Andalucia it is a rare winter straggler. 



No red on forehead or breast ; bill yellow in adults, dusky in young. 

 Adult male. Above ruddy brown, feathers streaked with black down the 



