124 cassell's book of birds. 



THE MOUNTAIN OR GREY LINNET. 

 The Mountain or Grey Linnet (Cannabina montium) in many northern countries seems to 

 take the place of the species just described. Its length is four and three-quarter inches, and the span 

 of its wings eight and a quarter inches. The plumage on the back is of a blackish brown, the feathers 

 being edged with rust colour, the rump is red, the breast of a rusty yellowish grey striped with brown, 

 and the remainder of the lower part of the body white. This bird is always to be met with in the 

 northern parts of Scotland, also in Norway, Lapland, Russia, and Siberia ; it inhabits mountain 

 regions where stunted shrubs and low Alpine plants sprout from between the rocks. In its habits it 

 resembles its congeners, but is perhaps of a somewhat livelier and more cautious disposition. Its 

 voice reminds us of the notes of the Siskin and Red Linnet, and though its song can scarcely be 

 called beautiful, it has something so spirited and cheerful in its tones that the inhabitants of such 

 northern countries as are not much frequented by Finches take great pleasure in listening to its 

 strains. In captivity the habits of the Grey Linnet are the same as those of others of its race, and it 

 soon becomes accustomed to a cage. The food of this little chorister consists of seeds. The 

 Mountain Linnet is frequently found in the southern parts of Sweden ; it is said to be rare in Scotland 

 though common in England, and is frequently caught in the vicinity of London. Solitary birds of 

 this species are often met with in Germany ; and during very severe winters they will even wander as 

 far as Southern Switzerland, Northern Italy, or the south of France. 



Many small Finches, distinguished for their long and slender beaks, were formerly classed under 

 the general name of Siskins, but have lately been arranged in separate groups with more or less 

 reference to the colour of their plumage. 



THE BIRCH-TREE SISKIN. 



The Birch-tree Siskin (Linaria rubra) is extremely common in Central Europe ; by some 

 authors it has been described as the Red Linnet, nevertheless it is so entirely unlike the Linnet, that 

 only a novice in ornithology could mistake them, even at the first glance. The adult male of this 

 species is a beautiful bird, as will be evident from the following description : — The front of the head is 

 of a dark carmine-red, the rump pale red, and the feathers on the upper part of the body brown with 

 light edges ; the wing and tail feathers are black bordered with grey, and the wing exhibits two bands 

 of a lighter shade than the remainder of its surface. The under part of the body is entirely white, 

 the throat black, the fore part of the neck, upper breast, and sides, of a pale carmine-red, this last 

 colour being entirely wanting, or very indistinct in the female. Shortly after moulting, the beauty of 

 the plumage much deteriorates, as the feathers then become edged with grey. The young birds resemble 

 the mother, and, when nestlings, are of a uniform brownish grey with brownish markings along the 

 body ; the head is blueish, the lower mandible yellow, the feet greyish brown, and the eye dark brown. 

 The Birch Siskin is of nearly the same dimensions as the Linnet, being about five inches long and 

 eight and a half inches across the wings ; the female is in a very trifling degree smaller than her mate, 

 and both birds differ from other Finches in the unusual elongation of the beak, which is somewhat 

 conical and compressed at the sides, and by their comparatively strongly-developed wings. 



Those of us who have been favoured with a peep into the extensive northern forests can 

 understand why it is that the Birch Siskins are so rarely seen during the winter in Central Europe ; 

 they seldom need to migrate, the birch-trees of those words producing in great abundance all that 

 they require ; it is only when their usual supply of seeds and fruits fails that these birds decide on 



