542 



MY GARDEN. 



The Lesser Redpole (Fringilla Linotd) comes to us in autumn. The 

 common Linnet {Fringilla cannabina, fig. 1166) visits the garden in 

 scanty numbers. This is peculiarly the poor man's bird. It appears to 



Fig. 1164.— Starling. Fig. 1165.— Bullfinch. 



be much excited when it " pours forth his song in gushes," and I shall 

 ever remember the delight which a caged bird, kept by a neighbour, 

 afforded to me once when I was confined to bed for a few days. 



" Books !— 'tis a dull and endless strife : 

 Come, hear the woodland linnet. 

 How sweet his music ! On my life 

 There's more of wisdom in it."— Wordsworth. 



Only one or two of the beautiful Goldfinches (Fringilla Carduelis, 

 fig. 1 1 67) have been noticed. The Goldfinch has become much more 

 scarce in the southern counties of England than it used to be. I have 



Fig. 1 166. — Linnet. 



Fig. 1167.— Goldfinch. 



formerly seen large flocks farther down, on the Brighton downs. One 

 of the great charms of the redpole and of the goldfinch is the manner 

 in which they use their feet as organs of prehension, holding the food 

 in their feet whilst they take it w ith their beak. 



