96 FINCH. 



pi. 46. Alb. iii. pi. 72, 73. Id. Song Birds, pi. p. GO. Bolton, Birds, i. pi. 29, 

 30. Bewick, Birds, i. p. 173. Lewin, Birds, ii. pi. 85. JVa/cot, ii. pi. 222. 

 Pult. Cat. Dors. p. 12. Orn. Diet. 



THE colours of the plumage in this bird coincide so much with 

 the last, as to make a recapitulation unnecessary; the difference, 

 according to the generality of authors, consists in the addition of a 

 crimson spot on the forehead, and the breast tinged with a fine rose- 

 colour ; and although it, with many, passes for a different species, yet 

 later observations assure us, that it is not distinct from the Grey 

 Linnet : in this sentiment I have been encouraged by my late friend, 

 and most excellent naturalist, Mr. Boys, of Sandwich ; added to the 

 observations of Colonel Montagu, both of whom have long had their 

 suspicions in respect to this fact, as well as myself, and may be thus 

 accounted for : — The Common Linnet not being complete, in respect 

 to the red of the forehead, till the end of the second year at soonest, 

 is, notwithstanding, capable of breeding in the first spring after being 

 hatched. I have observed in the male of the Common Linnet, the 

 head feathers to appear, externally, like the rest of the upper parts; 

 but on lifting them up a tinge of red was very manifest. One of 

 these birds, brought to me in January, was seemingly in its change, 

 for the feathers of the forehead were apparently grey, but on raising 

 them up with a pin, they were fine crimson in the middle : as to the 

 red on the breast, it is well known, that it is only to be seen at certain 

 seasons, and if this bird be kept in a cage, it entirely loses it, so as 

 never to return during confinement. 



60— STRASBURG FINCH. 



Fringilla Argentoratensis, Ind. Orn.'i. 460. Gin. Lin.'i. 918. Shaw's Zool.ix.. 538. 

 Linaria Argentoratensis, Bris. iii. 146. Id. Svo. i. 346. 

 Gyntel de Strasburg, Buf. iv. 73. Tern. Man. Ed. ii. p. 366.. 

 Strasburg Finch, Gen. Si/n. iii. 308. 



SIZE of the Common Linnet. Head and upper parts of the body 

 in general, wings, and tail brown ; beneath, as far as the upper part 



