THE BROWN LINNET. 343 



New England it is called Yellow-bird. It is a rich lemon- yellow, with wings of black. The 

 great resemblance of this bird to the canary induces people to keep them. They often pair 

 with the canary, as they are easily domesticated. The song of the Yellow-bird resembles that 

 of the Goldfinch of Europe. 



Several other species of Goldfinch are found in the Southern and Western States. 



The Siskin, or Aberdevine, is one of the European birds which performs an annual 

 migration either partial or complete, a. question about which there has been some controversy, 

 and one which may fully receive a solution from the supposition that some birds remain in the 

 countries of that part of the world throughout the year, retiring no farther to the north than 

 Scotland, while others pass to Norway and Sweden for the purpose of nidification, and do not 

 return to a wanner climate until the autumn. 



They are lively little birds, assembling in small flocks of eight or ten in number, and 

 haunting the edges of brooks and streams for the purpose of seeking the seeds of the elder and 

 other trees, on which they chiefly feed. Along the banks they are quick and active, fluttering 

 from one bough to another, and clinging in every imaginable attitude, with a strength of limb 

 and briskness of gesture much resembling the movements of the titmice. While thus engaged, 

 they constantly utter their sweet and gentle call note, which is so soft that bird-dealers are in 

 the habit of pairing the Siskin with the canary, in order to obtain a song-bird whose voice 

 is not so ear-piercing as that of the pure canary. 



The coloring of this bird is remarkable for the very peculiar green with which most of its 

 plumage is tinged, and which is spread over the whole of its back and the upper portions 

 of its body. The centre of each feather of its back is dark olive-green. 



The Greenfinch is one of the commonest birds, being a resident in European countries 

 throughout the year, and not even requiring a partial migration. 



It is mostly found in hedges, bushes, and copses, and as it is a bold and familiar bird, 

 is in the habit of frequenting the habitations of men, and even building its nest within close 

 proximity to houses or gardens. During the mild weather, the Greenfinch remains in the 

 open country, but in the severe winter months it crowds to the farm-houses, and boldly 

 disputes with the sparrows the chance grains of food that it may find. When young, the bird 

 is fed almost wholly upon caterpi liars and various insects, and not until it has attained its full 

 growth does it try upon the hard seeds the large bill which has obtained for it the title of 

 Green Grosbeak. 



The voice of the Greenfinch is very ordinary, being possessed neither of strength nor 

 melody, so that the bird is in very little demand as an inhabitant of the aviary. 



The nest of this bird is generally built rather later than is usual with the Finches, and is 

 seldom completed until May has fairly set in. Its substance is not unlike that of the chaffinch, 

 being composed of roots, wool, moss, and feathers. It is not, however, so neatly made, nor so 

 finely woven together, as the nest of that bird. The eggs are from three to five in number, and 

 the color is bluish-white covered at the larger end with sx>ots of brown and gray. 



In the adult male bird, the head, neck, and all the upper parts of the body are yellow with 

 a green wash, and the wings are partly edged with bright yellow. The primary feathers 

 of the wings are gray-black, edged for a considerable portion of their length with brilliant 

 yellow. The greater wing-coverts, together with the tertiaries, are gray ; the chin, throat, 

 breast, and under parts of the body are yellow, falling into gray on the flanks. With the 

 exception of the two short middle feathers, which are gray-brown throughout, the tail-feathers 

 are yellow for the first half of their length, and gray-brown for the remainder. The female 

 is of much more sober colors, being greenish broAvn on the back and under surface, and the 

 yellow of the wings being very dull. The total length of the bird is about six inches, the 

 female beine; little less than her mate. 



-*& 



The common Linnet is sometimes called the Brown Linnet, in contradistinction to the 

 preceding species, or the Greater Redfinch, in allusion to the vermilion-tipped feathers 

 the crown. 



