572 FRINGILLID&. 
heath. In the winter it appears in large flocks, frequently 
in company with Sparrows and Snow Buntings, and infests 
the corn-yards.” Our southern bird-catchers say they can 
tell immediately if there are any Mountain Linnets among 
the flocks of small birds around them, by their particular 
note, which is considered to resemble the word “‘ twite,” in 
its sound, and hence the name of Twite, by which, as well 
as by that of Mountain Linnet, this bird is very generally 
known. Its food consists of any sort of seed of small size. 
Our Mountain Linnet inhabits Denmark, Norway, Swe- 
den, and indeed Scandinavia generally, but is said to be 
rare in Russia, particularly in the eastern portions. It 
is observed periodically on its passage in Germany and 
France, and some are said to remain and breed in the moun- 
tains of Switzerland. It is found in Provence, at Genoa, 
and even as far south as Rome in winter, but retires to the 
northern mountains to breed in summer. M. Temminck 
says our bird is found in Japan, where it is known by the 
name of Zuzume. 
The beak is yellow, and hence the term /lavirostris has 
by some authors been attached to this species; the irides 
hazel; the forehead, crown of the head, ear-coverts, neck 
behind, back, and wings, are of two shades of brown, the 
darker colour pervading the middle of the feather, the 
lighter wood-brown colour on the edges ; the greater wing- 
coverts only tipped with pale wood-brown, forming one bar 
across the wing; quill-feathers brownish black, the primaries 
with narrow edges, the tertials with broader margins of pale 
brown; the rump red; upper tail-coverts like the back im 
colour ; tail-feathers brownish black, with narrow white 
external edges, and broader light brown inner margins ; 
tail deeply forked ; chin and throat uniform reddish yellow 
brown, without streaks but streaked on the sides of the 
lower part of the breast and flanks with dark brown ; 
