THE GREY-LINNET. 267 



wooded valley of the river Stinchar ; he has sometimes observed 

 them picking like sparrows at the horse-dung on the roads. The 

 bird-catchers believe that siskins breed in that quarter, as they 

 often take young birds, — but the period of their capture has 

 not been so precisely stated as to enable me to form any opinion 

 on the question. The siskin is known to Sir Wm. Jardine 

 and others, to have bred in different parts of Scotland. Goldfinches 

 are so scarce in the part of Ayrshire alluded to, that only one pair 

 has come under the notice of my friend. 



THE GREY LINNET. 



Common Linnet. Greater Redpole. 



Linaria cannabina, Linn, (sp.) 

 Fringilla „ „ 

 linota, Gmel. 



Is one of the most common birds throughout Ireland at 

 every season. 



In nearly all kinds of localities, except the lofty mountain-ridge, 

 this species is to be met with,* either by itself, or associated with 

 other linnets ( L'marice ) ; sometimes with chaffinches. It is 

 partial to neglected pastures, or other grounds, where " weeds" are 

 permitted to flourish, and renders the farmer a great service by 

 feeding on their seeds. The cultivator of flax in the north of 

 Ireland, by placing no value on the home-grown seed, until of 

 late years, unwittingly presented a rich autumnal treat to the 

 greylinnet. After this plant had been subjected to steeping, the 

 seed parted freely from the stem, when the bundles were flung out 

 of the pool on the neighbouring banks, where these birds might 

 be seen congregated to feed upon it, so long as any remained. 

 The linnet has a great predilection for deserted quarries, especially 

 of limestone, for the sake, doubtless, of consuming the seeds of 

 the various plants which spring from the debris ; — as it also has 



* About Aberarder, Inverness-shire, where there is not much choice of locality, 

 I have seen them about wild mountain banks, and have heard them sing when con- 

 gregated in the middle of September, on the rocky heights above Loch Cor. 



