CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 2. PASSERES. 
165 
THE COMMON SNOW-BIRD. 
bird, common to botli continents, being found as far north as Greenland, Spitzbergen, the Faroe 
Islands, and Lapland. It migrates southward, always by night, on the approach of winter, and 
some go as far as England and France in Europe, and Virginia in America. Although they mostly 
breed in high northern regions, still some nests are found in most of the northern Atlantic States. 
The eggs, usually four, are yellowish white, spotted. These birds feed on grass-seeds, berries, 
insects, and larvae. The S. Oreganus, six inches long; reddish-brown above ; black below ; is 
found on the Columbia River and in Texas. 
THE COMMON LINNET OF EUEOPE. 
THE LINNETS. 
Gemis LINOTA : Linota. — This includes the Common Linnet of Europe, L. cannabina — Linotte 
of the French — four and three-quarter inches long ; chestnut-brown above ; breast red ; under 
parts>pale wood-brown. It is a gay and active bird, with a sprightly and agreeable song, its voice 
being loud and flute-like ; it is fond of the seed of flax, whence its popular name ; it feeds also on 
various other seeds. The nest, made of twigs and grass, lined with wool, is usually placed in a 
furze or other bush. It is common all over Europe ; it is familiarly known in England, whence we 
find constant reference to it in Enghsh literature. The variations of plumage which occur in this 
bird at different seasons and periods of life, have caused it to be known by the various names of 
the Brown, Gray, and Rose Linnet; it is also called the Whin Linnet, the Greater Redpole, and 
