S68 CLASS AVES. 



sionally red currants. As nothing should be neglected to 

 preserve a bird, to rear which so much pains are taken, 

 it should be kept as nearly as possible in its natural state. 

 These birds are pvilverators, and a bed of fine sand, renewed 

 from time to time, should be kept at the bottom of their cage, 

 and as they are fond of bathing, they should also have a 

 small bath, into which fresh water is put every day. 



The linnets unite in flocks towards the end of September, 

 and remain so during the winter. They fly in close bodies, 

 rise and fall together, and fix on the same trees. Their flight 

 is continuous, and not performed by repeated springs, like 

 tha,t of the sparrows. On the ground they proceed by hop- 

 ping. They pass the night in the woods, and choose for an 

 asylum the trees, whose leaves, though dry, are not yet fallen, 

 such as oaks, &c. They frequent fallow, and cultivated 

 lands, living on various little grains ; they also pick the buds 

 of poplars, of linden trees, and birch, as do the bulfinches, 

 &c. Another of their aliments is indicated by their name — -■ 

 this is linseed. In short, all kinds of grain suits them ; but 

 it does not appear that they ever touch insects. It is certain 

 that they do not take them to their young, as the birds which 

 use both grain and insects do. Towards the commencement 

 of spring, they are heard to sing altogether at a time, and 

 their concert is always preceded by a sort of prelude. At 

 this time they pair. Once having made their choice, each 

 pair isolates, and chooses a particular district, from which it 

 never departs during the summer. 



Linnets are common in France, in Italy, in the Levant, in 

 Germany, and in the southern parts of Russia. 



The Siski7is (Fr. Spinus) are birds of passage, and fly 

 so high that they may be heard before they are seen. They 

 are very numerous in the southern provinces of Russia, and 

 common enough in this country during the winter ; they are 

 fond of places where the alder-tree abounds. They arrive in 



