TWITE or MOUNTAIN-LINNET. 



FRINGILLA FLAVIROSTRIS, Linn. 



Fringilla flavirostris, Linn. S. N. i. p. 322 (1766). 

 Fringilla montium, Naum. v. p. 103 ; Hewitson, i. p. 203. 

 Linaria flavirostris, Macg. i. p. 379. 



Linota flavirostris, Yarr. ed. 4, ii. p. 160 ; Dresser, iv. p. 59. 



Linotte a bee jaune, French; Berg-Hanfling , German; 

 Pajarel, Murcia. 



The " Lintie," as this species is commonly called in 

 Scotland, breeds more or less commonly on the moor- 

 lands of that kingdom, as well as on those of Northern 

 England and Ireland ; in the central and southern 

 counties of our country it is an irregular autumnal 

 visitor, far more abundant at that period in the eastern 

 than the western districts. 



The Twite generally nests upon or close to the 

 ground, amongst high heather or long grass. In habits 

 this bird seems to me to assimilate more closely to the 

 Common Linnet than to the Redpolls ; it has no parti- 

 cular merit as a songster, and is naturally a somewhat 

 shy bird. The few Twites that I have met with in 

 Northamptonshire in the autumn and winter were found 

 upon our stubbles and rough fallows, gleaning in 

 company with other Finches. 



