Nest, &c. 
Food. 
Song. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Male. 
276 PASSERES. FRINGILLA. Brown 
repeatedly verified the fact‘of its never acquiring, under con- 
finement, those brilliant tints which distinguish it, at a parti- 
cular period of the year, when in a state of liberty. I will 
adduce one instance strikingly to the point in question. Fer 
some particular purpose of observation, a linnet was shot 
more than two years ago, towards the close of summer, when 
the plumage shewed its most perfect nuptial tint; and hap- 
pening to be only winged, it was put into a cage, where it 
soon became familiarised to its situation, and still continues. 
About the usual time, in the autumn of that year, it moulted, 
and acquired the winter-dress of the common linnet, which it 
has retained ever since, without displaying, at the accustomed 
season, any of the brilliant red that adorned it in the wild 
state. This linnet is very common throughout Britain, ex- 
tending as far as to the Orkneys, where it is abundant. Du- 
ring the summer it resorts to waste lands and commons, in 
the upper parts of the country, where it breeds. 
The nest is generally built in furze, if convenient, or in 
some other low bush, aud is formed of moss and stalks of 
grass interwoven with wool, and lined with hair and feathers. 
The eggs are four or five in number, of a bluish-white, 
speckled with purplish-red colour. In winter these birds as- 
semble in very large flocks, and descend to the sea-coasts, where 
they continue to reside till spring again urges them to pair, 
and seek their upland haunts.—They feed upon the smaller 
class of seeds, as of the flax, thistle, dandelion, &c., and par- 
ticularly on those of the cruciform plants. 
The song of the linnet, although short, possesses much 
sweetness; and its owner is, on this account, frequently kept 
in a state of confinement. 
Prater 55. Fig. 3. Male bird, in the summer plumage, and 
of the natural size. 
Bill deep bluish-grey. Forehead and breast of a bright 
carmine red. Throat and under part of the neck yel- 
lowish-white, streaked with brown. Crown of the head, 
