526 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



P/l.I. b, II'. F. Piggall 



LINNET 



One of the moit popular cagc-hirds. The so-called Red-hroivn and Gre\' Linnets are but phases of plumage of the same species. The bird 



in the '-ight-hand corner is a greenfinch 



brown, whilst the white parts are less pure in tone. The full dress of the male is rarely 

 seen in the British Islands, save in specimens procured from Scotland; for in winter, when the 

 snow-bunting is chiefly captured, the plumage is altogether more rufous. 



Unlike the buntings so far described, the Reed-BUNTINC is to be found only in marsh}' 

 places, but in suitable localities it may be found in the British Islands all the \'ear round, being 

 as common a species as the corn-bunting, and therefore not calling for special description here. 



The eggs of the buntings are remarkable for the curious scribble-like markings which 

 cover them, and ser\'e readily to distinguish them from those of any other British bird. 



CHAPTER XVI 



LARKS, TITMICE, HONET-EATERS, AND THEIR KINDRED 



CONFINl'^D almost entirel)' to the Old World, where they are represented by more than 

 one hundred species, many of which have undergone considerable specialisation in the 

 matter of |)lumage, so as to enable them to live in desert regions, the LARKS constitute 

 a well-marked grouji, into the characters of which we need not enter here. 



The best-known member of the group is the SKYLARK. Common throughout the British 

 Islands, and of sober coloration, no bird is more universally beloved, and this largely on 

 account of the sweetness of its song, which is second only to that of the nightingale. Poets 

 and prose-writers alike have sounded its praises, many in passages that will be remembered as 

 long as our language lasts. The skylark is one of the few birds which sing while on the 

 wing; the peculiar nature of the flight at this time all must have watched, entranced the 

 while by the beauty of the song. 



