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LINNET. 



Provincial. — Lintwhite. Greater Redpole. Grey Linnet. Lintie.* 

 This species is subject to much variety, with respect to the red mark- 

 ings which, at certain ages and seasons, are found upon the head and 

 breast, and this has occasioned it to be multiplied into two distinct 

 species by various ornithologists, all of whom seem to agree that the 

 general colour of both are alike, but assert that the greater redpole has 

 none of this colour upon the breast. On comparing the various 

 authors who have given this as a distinct species, we find they all make 

 it nearly the same as the redpole, but not quite so rufous on the upper 

 parts. The principal distinction seems to be in the breast being of a 

 fine crimson colour, and none of that colour on the head. 



Linnseus does not appear to have considered these birds as distinct, 

 and we have no doubt he was perfectly right ; for they are to be met 

 with in all gradations, with respect to the red marking on the head and 

 breast, sometimes on one of those parts only, at other times on neither: 

 this depends wholly on age and season. From the vast number we 

 have killed at all seasons, in which the greatest variety of those mark- 

 ings were observed, we do not hesitate to pronounce them the same 

 species. 



It is probable, however, that the full plumage of this bird does not 

 take place till the second or third year, for we have seen them in all 

 gradations in the breeding season; some of which had scarcely any tinge 

 on the head or breast, and yet by dissection have proved males. The 

 young, for some time after they leave their nest, resemble the female, 

 and if taken into confinement in that state, rarely, if ever, throw out 

 the red spots, or become so rufous upon the back; and even those which 

 are taken in full maturity, most frequently lose all the red feathers in 

 the first moulting, which never return. In these different stages they 

 are commonly known by the name of Brown Linnet. 



The male in full plumage has the bill bluish ; irides hazel ; the head 

 light brown ; the feathers on the crown darkest in their middle ; sides 

 of the neck inclining to ash-colour ; the forehead rosy red ; the back, 

 scapulars, and coverts of the wings, fine deep rufous-brown, lightest on 

 the rump, and palest on the margin of each feather; the breast is 

 brown, with more or less spots like that on the head ; belly light 

 rufous-brown ; vent almost white ; quill-feathers dusky black, with 

 more or less white on the exterior and interior webs, which forms a 

 conspicuous bar of that colour on the wing ; the tail is forked, the 

 feathers, like those of the quills, black, margined with white, which 

 colour predominates on the inner webs ; coverts of the tail black, edged 

 with grey ; legs brown. The weight of the male about five drams, 



