THE LINNET. 



absent. In fact, as Yarrell says, perfect 

 specimens are not often met with, and 

 the carmine cap and breast are generally 

 replaced by brownish lake-red. 



Some adult male Linnets have lemon- 

 yellow breasts, and in Germany are con- 

 sidered old birds and the best singers. 



The female is a trifle smaller than the 

 male and lacks the red on the top of the 

 head and breast. 



This species is distinguished from the 

 Lesser l^edpole by having no white bar 

 on the wings and no black upon the chin, 

 and from the 

 Twite, \\' i t h 

 which it is 

 likel}^ to be con- 

 fused, by the 

 facts that it 

 has a shorter 

 and less deeply 

 forked tail and 

 the male lack- 

 ing the red on 

 his rump. 



Last spring I 

 spent two days 

 on a Surrey 

 common pho- 

 tographing the 



LINNET'S NEST AND EGGS 



339 



