2 LINNET. 
from across the North Sea; on no occasion, however, did Linnets come under my observation while on the 
passage during autumn or early winter. From the light-ships I could gain little information concerning 
their movements, the only wings received being fifteen taken on board the ‘ Newarp ’ early in March 
1873. As to which way the poor little travellers were shaping their course when dashed against the 
lamps, there was no chance of ascertaining. 
Furze-clad downs appear the favourite summer-quarters of this species in the vicinity of the south 
coast; in the more inland portions of the southern counties there are in the wooded districts here and 
there large fields of furze or gorse to which Linnets resort in numbers during the breeding-season. On 
one such wild and rugged stretch of ground situated between Catsfield and Ashburnham, known to the 
natives of the locality as the “ horthy field,” I well remember Linnets so plentiful about thirty years 
ago that over three hundred eggs were counted in a single morning’s ramble. Three Cuckoo’s eggs also 
came under our observation on that occasion — one in the nest of a Hedge-Sparrow, another in that of a 
Meadow-Pipit, and the third in the nest of a Linnet containing two pure white eggs. On a certain part 
of the furze there were for several successive seasons three or four nests in which the whole of the eggs 
were perfectly white ; in shape and size they exactly corresponded with the usual form, and the birds 
being watched repeatedly there could have been no possibility of a mistake as to their identity. In 
shrubberies and gardens near Brighton I have occasionally met with the nests of this species in dense 
bushes of Cupressus ; when resorting to such quarters the birds become remarkably fearless, paying little 
or no attention to the presence of those they are accustomed to see round their haunts. Some years ago, 
when living in East Lothian, I discovered a nest of this bird (which is there termed the Lintie) placed 
amongst the ends of the straws protruding from the side of a wheat-stack at about the height of fourteen 
feet from the ground, the young being just on the point of flying. It was somewhat singular that on the 
thatch of the adjoining stack a Partridge was sitting on fourteen eggs. 
The summer plumage of the male Linnet is exceedingly bright and attractive, the feathers on the 
crown of the head and breast exhibiting a deep carmine tint ; in winter these colours change to a dull claret, 
which renders the bird far less conspicuous. In captivity Linnets, after moulting, never regain the brilliant 
hues assumed during summer when in a wild state, eventually losing all signs of their former colouring. 
In the ‘Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham,’ by J. Hancock, it is stated:— “The fact 
is that the males, from shedding the nest-featliers get a red breast, which they retain only during the first 
season ; they then assume the garb of the female, which is retained for the rest of their lives, as in the 
case of the Crossbill. This does not seem to be generally understood by ornithologists, though the bird- 
fancier is quite familiar with the fact that the males never regain the red on the breast after moulting. 
It is stated by Yarrell that the male assumes the red breast in the breeding-season. This is not quite 
correct, for just as many are found breeding without the red breast as with it.” These remarks do 
not agree with my own experience; though it is well known that cage-birds never regain their rosy 
breasts, I have not met with a single instance where a wild male was paired and breeding unless the 
usual bright tints on the head and breast were fully developed. 
