BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. IM 



than the redpole's, and more of a brown cast than 

 either. The treatment of these birds, young and 

 old, is the same as that of the goldfinch or the 

 linnet. 



The red-breasted linnet is more rare than the 

 grey-linnet; but much more common than the 

 greater redpole'. It builds in the same situations 

 as those birds, but oftener in furze and bushes in 

 ravines, and amongst craggy places ; from which 

 circumstance some call it the rock-linnet. 



The nest is composed of Avithered grass, moss, 

 and wool; lined with hair and cotton-grass, or 

 thistle-down. The eggs, from fom* to five in num- 

 ber, are of a bluish- white, sprinkled with reddish- 

 brown spots. 



The song of the red-breasted linnet is very rich 

 and varied ; and it pours out its note, o'er the soli- 

 tary wilds, in a strain of sweet and cheerful me- 

 lody. 



