The Mountain^ or Grey Linnet. 143 



wing coverts are brown, the larger being bordered on the 

 inner feathers with greyish brown. The tail is dark brown, 

 shaded with lighter brown on the margins of the feathers. 

 The face, throat, and upper part of breast, are a pretty, 

 warm, cinnamon brown ; the lower parts of the breast, belly, 

 and vent are greyish white, tinged with pale brown ; the 

 sides of the breast and belly are light brown, striped with 

 dark brown. The rump is of a peculiar purplish-red colour 

 (a sort of magenta). The legs and feet are very dark brown ; 

 claws jet black. 



Habits and Breeding. — These birds are more tractable, 

 and, consequently, easier tamed, than Brown Linnets, and 

 soon become reconciled to captivity, when they exhibit a 

 cheerful and contented disposition. They associate with Brown 

 Linnets and Eedpolls occasionally, bat are much more scarce 

 than either. They generally hang about hilly and moun- 

 tainous districts, and, doubtless on this account, have acquired 

 the name of Mountain Linnet. 



This bird is not, so far as is known, indigenous to Great 

 Britain, but is merely a winter visitant, arriving in the 

 autumn, about September, and leaving again in March. It 

 is said to breed in the south of France, Russia, and Poland. 

 Their nests, which are usually built in fir trees, at a con- 

 siderable height from the ground, are composed of moss and 

 lichens, and lined with hair or feathers. The hen lays four 

 or five small eggs, whitish, and spotted with fawn colour. 

 In habits and other respects they resemble the Mountain 

 Finch, or Brambling, and are regarded by most ornithologists 

 as closely allied to these birds. They hold a similar relation- 

 ship to Bramblings that Eedpolls do to Brown Linnets. 

 They are frequently termed French Linnets by birdcatchers 

 and others. 



Methods of Captuee. — These birds travel in the company 

 of other Linnets, and the methods previously recommended 

 for capturing those birds will succeed in ensnaring the Twites, 

 They are more cautious than Eedpolls, but not so shy and 

 suspicious as Brown Linnets. 



Food and Treatment. — In a wild state, these birds feed on 

 seeds and berries of various kinds, and are fond of charlock, 

 linseed, button weed, and plantain seed. When domesticated, 

 they eat canary, rape, poppy, millet, and linseed. They 



