MOUNTAIN LINNET. Ill 



TNSESSORES. FRINGILLIDJE. 



CONIROSTRES. 



PLATE CXI. 



MOUNTAIN LINNET. 



LlNARIA MONTANA. {Ray.) 



The northern parts of Europe and Asia include the coun- 

 tries in which this lively and pretty Linnet is most abundant, 

 and in which the greater number of them are reared and pass 

 the summer season^ At this period it is said to be met 

 with in the Arctic regions in mountainous places, where no 

 trees occur, and where the largest products of the vegetable 

 kingdom are stunted shrubs. It is found also in Norway, 

 Sweden, Lapland, and Siberia. These birds are abundant 

 in the Orkneys, according to the account of the Rev. Mr. 

 Law, in his Fauna Arcadensis, and of Mr. Salmon. From 

 these gentlemen we learn that the Mountain Linnet is a 

 permanent resident in those islands, building amongst the 

 heath or young corn. The same is stated by Mr. Dunn, 

 in his Ornithologist's Guide to Orkney and Shetland ; who 

 says of this species, that it is, as far as he is aware, the 

 only Linnet that breeds in these countries, over which it 

 is pretty numerously dispersed. In winter it visits stack- 

 yards, in company with buntings and sparrows, in large 

 flocks. 



In Shetland, according to the observations of Mr. Edmon- 

 ston, in a list of the birds of those islands published in the 

 Zoologist, the Twite, or Mountain Linnet, is resident and 

 very common. 



