THE GREATER RED-POLE FINCH. 49 



of the neck and throat are yellowish white, with dull brown 

 streaks the middle of the belly the same tint, purer, and 

 the breast and flanks pale reddish-brown, with darker brown 

 streaks. The plumage of the female, as is the case with that 

 sex in most birds, varies little with the seasons. 



The linnet (for notwithstanding the many names of this 

 bird, that is perhaps its most appropriate, because its most 

 general one) is partially a migrant within the country, 

 though the sexes do not separate in the same decided manner 

 as the chaffinches. During the inclement season, the birds 

 resort to the lower grounds, especially to those near the sea- 

 shore. They appear in considerable flocks ; the young birds 

 appear earliest, then the females, and lastly the mature 

 males, which may be said to be the order of movement with 

 all autumnal birds, how limited soever may be the distance 

 to which they do migrate. 



In the flocking time, against which the male has lost the 

 red on the breast, linnets fly very close and crowded, but 

 with a smooth and straightforward flight. On the ground 

 they hop, and have not so much command of themselves as 

 chaffinches, and they accordingly spend more of their time 

 on the wing. They wheel about in masses and perch on 

 trees, and though they have no song in the winter, they all 

 chirp at the same time. When the weather begins to get 

 warm, their short but pleasant song commences, before they 

 retire to the breeding grounds, or the plumage of the male 

 changes ; and though their song is not so full then as after 

 they have betaken themselves to the wilds, the crowds that 

 are in song on the same tree make a lively concert. 



The singing of the males while yet in the brown plumage, 

 and the fact that it is difficult to have caged birds in any 

 other, appear to be the chief causes of the confusion that 

 there is about the species. If the males are taken young, 

 they moult into the winter plumage, and do not change it ; 



VOL. II. E 



