The Brown Linnet. 19 



the tail measures two inches and a half. The beak of this 

 bird is dusky blue in summer, and whitish grey, with a brown 

 tip, in winter; the iris is dark brown, and the feet and legs 

 black. The general colour of the plumage is brown, but the 

 forehead and breast of the adult male are red : until they are 

 a year old they resemble their mothers, but never assume 

 the red cap and waistcoat in the house. 



The female Linnet is rather smaller than the male, and 

 has the upper part of her body streaked with dusky brown, 

 and yellowish white spots, which increase in number on the 

 breast, and the wing coverts are a dusky chesnut. In the 

 nest the females can be distinguished from their brothers by 

 the greyness of their backs, and the number of spots on their 

 breasts, which resemble that of a Lark. 



"When wild the Linnet subsists on grass and other seeds, 

 such as thistle, and those of the different kinds of Polygonwrn 

 and Chenopodium. In the house they are usually fed on Canary 

 and German rape, to which a little hemp seed may be occa- 

 sionally added. 



The eggs of the Linnet are from four to six in number, 

 and resemble those of the Canary; there are usually two broods 

 in the season, but sometimes three. Although it has been 

 asserted that these birds will not breed in captivity, they 

 certainly will do so, freely, in cage and aviary, providing 

 they have been brought up by hand, and are quite tame. 

 They wUl also pair and produce mules with the Canary, 

 Greenfinch, Goldfinch, and Bullfinch; and in the case of the 

 Canary, if the latter be a pale or mealy bird, the ofispring 

 wUl he almost entirely white; while as regards the other 

 Finches, the hybrids will combine the colours of both parents, 

 and are not attractive-looking birds. 



The natural song of the Linnet is agreeable and flute-like; 

 it consists of several strains succeeding each other very prettily, 

 and is only interrupted for a short time, while the bird is 

 moulting. The Linnet will also learn the notes of other birds, 



