90 On the Ornithology of Wilts \_Fringillidaf\. 



variety of its attitudes. Its plumage is a mixture of green and 

 yellow, the former predominating : it is also known as the 

 " Abordavine." 



"Common Linnet" (Linota cannabina). Extremely numerous 

 throughout this county, more particularly on our downs, whero 

 they congregate in autumn in large flocks. In summer the old 

 birds assume a red breast and red forehead, but this is only a 

 nuptial plumage, which they lose when the breeding season is 

 over, exchanging it for the more sober brown, in which they are 

 commonly arrayed : this change of dress caused much confusion 

 among our earlier Ornithologists, who mistook the bird in summer 

 and winter plumage for two distinct species, and they named the 

 former the Redpole, the latter the Grey Linnet ; and this was 

 another error which our countryman Montagu was the first to 

 discover and rectify : it is a joyous gentle bird, quite harmless, 

 and a sweet songster ; and (Yarrell informs us) derives its name 

 Linota, " la Linotte," " Linnet," from its partiality to the seeds of 

 the various species of flax (linum). 



" Lesser Redpole " (Linota linaria.) This is not a common bird 

 in our Southern county, though abundant farther North : it in- 

 habits the pine forests of Scandinavia, and seldom is seen here but 

 in winter. Mr. Withers however informs me that he occasionally 

 receives one to preserve ; and Mr. Elgar Sloper has a female in his 

 collection that was killed at Rowde on its nest in May 1850. It is 

 a very small bird with bright plumage, and closely resembles the 

 Siskin in all its habits and motions ; hanging with its back down- 

 wards at the extremity of the smaller branches of the birch and 

 alder ; and assuming a variety of constrained attitudes, in its 

 earnest endeavours to reach its favorite seeds ; in all which it also 

 reminds us of the family of Titmice. 



"Bullfinch" (Pyrrhula vulgaris). Handsome as this bird is, 

 and sweet as is its song, I fear we must confess it to be one of the 

 most mischievous of the feathered race, for the buds of fruit trees 

 are unhappily its favorite food, and so well can it ply its strong 

 parrot-shaped beak, that in an incredibly short time, it will strip 

 a tree of all its fruit-bearing buds, and therefore of all prospect of 



