LINNET. 
LIN OTA CANNAlilNA 
of ScoUaml T , ° ne ! ' Uth ° r aS ° foommon «»“"»» » ‘he Western Islands 
Scotland , I have no wish to dispute this assertion, though compelled to state that but few, if any 
came under my observation in those inhospitable regions. In Bast Lothian these birds were far from 
uncommon ; I have failed, however, lately to meet with any of the immense breeding-colonies formerly so 
frequently seen in the southern counties of England. 
The Ked-breasted Linnet appears at the present time far less abundant than in my bird-nesting day, 
some thirty years ago Improvements in agriculture, such as the breaking up of waste lands and the 
wild furze-covered stretches of sloping hill-sides, together with the persecution they annually suffer from 
the nets of the bird-catchers, have kept on gradually reducing their numbers, till in some parts of the 
country they have become almost rare birds. Large flocks of Linnets are, however, still seen in the 
early part of the winter on the downs and along the coast-line near Brighton ; I find that the average 
take for one pair of nets of a morning during the flight-time is between thirty and fifty dozen The 
hens are killed at once by their captors ; the males, perhaps less fortunate, being sent to London to 
supply the strange demand for cage-birds so common in some parts of the slums. 
It is usually in October that the large flights of Linnets appear on the south coast ; I find in my 
notes for 1882, under date of October 13th (weather fine with a breeze from the north-east), that immense 
numbers of these birds were passing along in an easterly direction. Larks and Swallows also following 
the same course. The next season the largest flights were seen on the 9th of the month, when the 
greater number appeared to be making their way towards the west. During winter, Linnets often join 
in large flocks with Twites and frequent the saltings along the river Adur between Skoreham and 
Bramber in Sussex. I have also seen the two species associated about the pools of brackish water 
near the shore at Lancing; the numberless seed-bearing plants that flourish among the patches of rank 
moist grass and also on the slopes of the shingle-banks probably prove the attraction to the spot. At 
times this barren stretch is alive with small birds. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Pipits, Linnets, and Twites 
rising singly or in scattered parties at almost every step one takes along the sea-wall. 
When heavy falls of snow and cold blasts of wind from north-north- west have brought the clouds 
of Larks and, other small birds to seek shelter in the southern and western counties, I have frequently 
remarked numbers of Linnets making their way along the downs towards the west. On such occasions, 
should the frost be severe, this species appears much affected by the weather, seldom flying far, but settling 
from time to time and pecking about for food under the shelter of banks or furze bushes; after a 
continuation of excessive cold for any length of time, when the snow lies deep and seeds are covered 
they soon exhibit signs of distress and not unfrequently perish in large numbers. 
I am aware that scientific naturalists assert that this species visits our shores in considerable numbers 
