FRINGILLINE. 193 
THE TWITE. 
LINOTA FLAVIROSTRIS (Linnzus). 
The Twite, or Mountain-Linnet as it is often called, may be 
distinguished from the Redpolls by its longer tail, more slender 
appearance, and the absence of any crimson tint on the head or 
breast. During the breeding-season it is an inhabitant of most of 
our moorlands from the Midlands northward, and, although more 
frequent in the hilly districts, it nests at the lower level of the 
mosses in Lancashire and elsewhere; it is, however, rather local, 
and only a few pairs seem to breed in the Lake district. In 
Cumberland it has, for some unaccountable reason, decreased 
during the last thirty years. On the mainland of Scotland the 
“ Hill-Lintie ” or “ Yellow-neb Lintie,” as it is called, becomes more 
abundant, especially where there is a sufficiency of long rank 
heather ; while in the neighbourhood of the shore, on the long arms 
of the sea so numerous on the west coast, as well as in the 
Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands it is resident and numerous. In 
Treland it breeds commonly on the mountains, and especially on 
the elevated coast, from Waterford in the south to Donegal in 
the north. On the approach of cold weather the higher districts 
are abandoned, and flocks, which gradually increase, descend to 
the sea-shore and spread themselves over the country, large numbers 
occurring on the Lincolnshire coast in the first half of October ; 
but in the south and east of England their appearance is somewhat 
irregular, while in Cornwall the species is, like the Lesser Redpoll, 
Q 
