554 FRINGILLID A. 
intermixed ; belly and under tail-coverts pale wood-brown ; 
the flanks darker yellowish brown ; the under surface of 
the tail-feathers when spread out exhibits a series of grey 
and white longitudinal bars ; legs, toes, and claws, brown. 
The whole length of the bird five inches and three-quar- 
ters. From the carpal joint to the end of the wing-feathers, 
three inches and one-eighth; the first three quill-feathers 
nearly equal in length, but the first rather the longest ; the 
fourth feather one quarter of an inch shorter than the third. 
In autumn and winter these birds have no red colour on 
the head or breast ; the beak is brownish horn colour; the 
feathers of the head, cheeks, and ear-coverts, dark brown, 
with lighter greyish brown edges; back, wings, and tail- 
coverts, dark brown, the margin of each feather bemg 
lighter in colour, but with less of the rich chestnut colour 
observed in summer; quill and tail-feathers as in winter ; 
throat, breast, belly, and under tail-coverts, pale wood- 
brown, with conspicuous longitudinal streaks of dark brown 
on the breast. 
Males do not in confinement acquire the fine red colour 
which pervades the breast of a mature wild bird; and a fe- 
male has been taken bearing a fine red breast, but this is not 
generally the case. The particular plumage, however, as- 
sumed during the breeding season by many species being a 
periodical indication of constitutional and sexual vigour is 
borne in degree by both sexes. 
The female Linnet is a little smaller than the male, and 
has the upper surface of the body rather lighter in colour, 
and more varied with dark brown patches; the under sur- 
face of the body slightly tinged with rufous, and streaked 
with brown. 
Young birds resemble the females, and have the breast, 
belly, and flanks, streaked longitudinally with brown. 
