fringillidjP.. 257 



THE GREEN LINNET. 



Greenfinch. 



Coccothraustes chloris, Linn, (sp.) 

 Loxia „ „ 



Fringilla „ Temm. 



Is common and resident in suitable localities throughout 

 the island. 



This bird is generally described, simply as found in cultivated dis- 

 tricts, but this gives no correct idea of the true haunts of the 

 species, or of its partialities. These, I have seen set forth, with the 

 nice discrimination and fullness which are so desirable, in one 

 work only, — the ' British Birds ' of Sir ¥m. Jardine. 



This author remarks on the green linnets, " frequenting culti- 

 vated districts in the vicinity of gardens and limited plantations. 

 During winter they congregate in large flocks, feeding on the 

 stubble ground on various small seeds, and resorting towards 

 night-fall to the vicinity of the plantations or evergreens surround- 

 ing some mansion. * * * In spring, when paired, they resort to 

 the garden and shrubbery!' The words in italics mark the nice 

 discrimination alluded to, and are in entire accordance with my 

 own observation on the favourite haunts of the green linnet, to 

 which alone they will strictly apply. By the plantation of shrub- 

 beries, I have known this handsome bird to be attracted to, and 

 soon become plentiful in, a rather wild district near Belfast, from 

 which it had previously been absent : the Portugal laurel (Prunus 

 Lusitanica), with its dense foliage being its favourite resort. 

 It is usually described as a late breeding bird; but in the 

 locality alluded to, which is at a considerable elevation, a journal- 

 note of April the 4th, 1832, mentions busy preparations for 

 building going forward in glen, shrubbery, and garden.* A nest, 

 found in a beech-hedge at this place, was so tastefully lined as to 

 be considered worth preserving. Outwardly, it was constructed 

 of roots interwoven with mosses ; but, mixed with black and white 



* They commence breeding early, but have also nests very late in the season. 



VOL. I. S 



