Ele Toes Nae Cue rel. 
‘male, and the colours in general lefs bright. What has been 
‘faid concerning the red on the breaft, however, only holds goed 
-of the bird in a natural ftate, as the moft beautiful breafted male 
foon lofes the crimfon when confined in a cage; nor does it re- 
gain it even in fpring, during its ftate of confinement. It is faid 
to live fourteen years, or more *. 
This bird is fufficiently common in England, and breeds on 
low fhrubs, d/ack and white thorn, and furze. The outfide of the 
neft is compofed of dried herds, grafs, and mofs, and lined with 
wool, or hair. The female lays as far as five white eggs, {potted 
with reddifh brown at the large end. Buffon talks of having neits 
brought to him in May, Fuly, and September; but whether they 
breed more than twice in a year, in England, is not certain. “They 
are frequently found in flocks, during the winter; and feed on 
many kinds of feeds, and are faid to be fond of flax-feed ( Linum} 
whence perhaps their name: are found throughout Frence, Italy, 
Germany, the fouth of Ruffia, and many other parts of Europe ; 
and it is not improbable but that it is alfo met with at the Cape 
of Good Hope +. ; 
There are only two varieties mentioned of this bird {. The 
one white; the quills and tail black, edged with white, as in the 
common. 
* Willughby.—As far as eighteen. Salernes 
+ I fay this on the fuppofition of its being the Zgithus of Ari/fotle, as Belon 
thinks. Kolbex mentions one, by name the “githus, as being common at the 
Cape, and a bird well known in Ezrofe, but does not defcribe it. He adds, that 
it is at enmity with a/és, for deftroying the neft, which it conftantly builds upon 
thiftles. See Kolb. Cap. vol. ii. p. 156. 
tT Hifi. des of. « ° 
The 
PLacE anp 
ManNwWERS. 
VARIETIES. 
