298 LITTLE BUSTARD. 



notes, tastefully put tog-ether in a clear and sonorous tone, which conti- 

 nues during- the whole year, except at the moulting season. Besides its 

 own natural note, it will soon acquire the notes of other birds, parti- 

 cularly the nightingale ; and may be taught in a very short time to 

 imitate any of our tunes, if they are whistled to it." He also seems 

 to be of opinion, that in addition to the two supposed species, the 

 synonimes of the Twite (jF. Montium) ought to be joined to those of 

 our common Linnet. " Convinced myself," says he, " from the obser- 

 vation of many years, I hope to shew by my description, that our com- 

 mon Linnet, the greater Redpole, and, according to all appearance, the 

 Mountain Linnet, are one and the same species." After describing the 

 mature bird, he says, " a male of three years old is distinguished in the 

 spring, by the name of the Red Linnet {Linotte Sanguine ;) the fore- 

 head is then of a bright blood-red colour ; the remainder of the head 

 being of a reddish ash colour; the top a little speckled with black. After 

 the moulting in autumn, we no longer see the red upon the forehead, 

 that colour being hid by the white feathers ; the coverts of the breast then 

 assume a deep brown-colour, and blackish spots begin to appear ; the 

 interior feathers on the breast, which were formerly red, are now of a 

 brownish grey, mixed with red. In this plumage it is known by the 

 name of the Grey Linnet. 



"After the time of its second moulting, if we part the reddish grey fea- 

 thers on the forehead and breast, we find that they are still red at the 

 tips, and only hid by the yellowish white borders of the new feathers." 



In this state it is the Rock or Mountain Linnet, (Linotte de Roche.) 

 " I have even," he adds, "had these birds with the forehead and breast 

 of a rich reddish yellow." To this variety bird-catchers give the name 

 of the Yellow Linnet. These varieties of plumage do not occur with 

 the female, which is besides considerably smaller.* In addition to 

 these, there are many changes produced by season and age ; for instance, 

 as the bird increases in age, the red-colour on the head increases 

 also. 



LITTLE AWK. — A name for the Rotch. 

 LITTLE BITTERN. — A name for the Boonk. 

 LITTLE BUSTARD (Cursores Otis.) 



Otis tetrax, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 264. 3. — Faun Suec. No. 196. — Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 

 723. sp. 3.— Lath, Ind. Orn. 2. p. 659. sp. 3.— *Otis minor, Rati, Syn. p. 59. 



2.— Will. p. 129. t. 32 Briss. 2. p. 24. 2. t. 2- f. 1. 2 Le Petite Outarde ou 



Cannepetiere, Buff. Ois. 2. p. 40 lb. pi. Enl. 25. old male, and pi. 10. female. 



— Outarde Cannepetiere, Temm. Man. d'Orn, 2. p. 507. — Der Kleine Trappe, 

 Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 3. p. 1446. t. 45. female. — Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 1. 



p. 309 Little Bustard, Br. Zool. 1. No. 99 Arct. Zool. 2. p. 321. A.— 



Lath. Syn. 4. p. 799. 2.— Letmn's Br. Birds, 4. t. 40.— Wale. Syn. 2. 1. 174 — 

 Mont. Orn. Diet lb. Supp. — Bewick's Br. Birds, 1 . t. p. 330. female. 



