84 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
TWITE. 
Linora FLavrrosTRis, Linn. 
Pl. XIIL, fig. 11. 
Geogr. distr.—Europe generally, breeding in the north and winter- 
ing in the south; in Great Britain it breeds in the Northern, Midland, 
and Western counties; it is common in Wales. 
Food.—Seeds, berries, and fruits. 
Nest.—Formed of fibrous roots, plant-stalks or heath and grass 
externally: towards the inside of fine roots and feathers, and lined 
with wool, rabbits’ fur, or thistle-down and hair. 
Position of nest.—In trees or walls, amongst long heather, or upon 
the ground under strips of turf turned up by the plough. 
Number of eggs.—5-6; usually 5. 
Time of nidification.—V-VI; May. 
The Twite frequents moors and open heath-covered 
places. In habits it resembles the Linnet. It breeds not 
uncommonly ‘in the more hilly districts of Hereford, 
Salop, Stafford, Derby and Chester, as well as in North 
Wales and the Isle of Man, and on elevated moorlands in 
the higher glens, with increasing frequency northward 
from Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire to 
Shetland, though in some districts it is rather scarce, 
and its stronghold in the West of Scotland is the Outer 
Hebrides. In Ireland it is found from north to south, and 
probably breeds in suitable localities throughout the island.” 
—(Newton in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ vol. ii., p. 161.) 
The Twite, though very like the Linnet, is a smaller 
bird, has no red on the crown or breast, and has a longer 
tail. Its song, though somewhat similar, is more mono- 
tonous and less powerful; its call-note is, however, said to 
be shriller- and somewhat to resemble the word “ twite,”’ 
whence its name has been derived. 
To attempt, as has been done, to describe differences of 
marking by which the egg of the Twite may be distinguished 
from that of the Linnet, is useless, as the eggs of the latter 
bird are sometimes, and not unfrequently, wholly unmarked, 
whereas at other times they are as heavily speckled and 
spotted as the best marked eggs of the Greenfinch (cf. my 
figs. 8 and10). The egg which I have figured was selected 
by Mr. Seebohm from his magnificent collection as a fairly 
typical form, but I have seen genuine Linnets’ eggs very 
nearly resembling it. 
