INTRODUCTION. 15 



of the redpole, in all its changes of plumage, run 

 in decided streaks, pointing doAvnwards, while 

 those on the breast of the linnet are much fainter, 

 and more inclining to an irregular mottled appear- 

 ance. The eggs of the redpole are of a bluish 

 white colom*, marked with specks and lines of 

 dingy purple, — those of the linnet are reddish white, 

 freckled with small spots of bro^vnish orange ; but, 

 above all, the songs of the two birds are different : 

 Both are good, but we think that of the linnet 

 the best ; and the song of the red-breasted linnet 

 differs from both. Now, if our own experience is 

 correct, we have, from observation, been always 

 led to believe that the song of all birds of the 

 same species, in a wild state, is invariably the 

 same. It is true, the habits of these three birds 

 are very similar. They frequent the same places, 

 and build their nests in the same kind of bushes, 

 which are generally furze or whins ; but the red- 

 pole is much more wild and shy than the linnet. 



In Scotland there are vast numbers of grey lin- 

 nets, but the redpole and red-breasted linnet are 

 rather rare birds in that country; — a thousand 

 grey linnets may be found for one redpole, and 

 five or six hundred grey for one red-breasted lin- 

 net. In spring and summer we have often had 



