FRINGILLIM. 
257 
THE GREEN LINNET. 
Greenfinch. 
Coccothraustes chloris, Linn, (sp.) 
Loxia „ ,, 
Fringilla ,, Temm. 
Is common and resident in suitable localities throughout 
the island. 
This bird is generally described, simply as found in cultivated dis- 
tricts, hut this gives no correct idea of the true haunts of the 
species, or of its partialities. These, I have seen set forth, with the 
nice discrimination and fullness which are so desirable, in one 
work only, — the f British Birds ’ of Sir Wm. Jardine. 
This author remarks on the green linnets, “ frequenting culti- 
vated districts in the vicinity of gardens and limited plantations. 
During winter they congregate in large flocks, feeding on the 
stubble ground on various small seeds, and resorting towards 
night-fall to the vicinity of the plantations or evergreens surround- 
ing some mansion. * * * In spring, when paired, they resort to 
the garden and shrubbery .” The words in italics mark the nice 
discrimination alluded to, and are in entire accordance with my 
own observation on the favourite haunts of the green linnet, to 
which alone they will strictly apply. By the plantation of shrub- 
beries, I have known this handsome bird to be attracted to, and 
soon become plentiful in, a rather wild district near Belfast, from 
which it had previously been absent : the Portugal laurel (Prunus 
Lusitanica) y with its dense foliage being its favourite resort. 
It is usually described as a late breeding bird; but in the 
locality alluded to, which is at a considerable elevation, a journal - 
note of April the 4th, 1832, mentions busy preparations for 
building going forward in glen, shrubbery, and garden.* A nest, 
found in a beech-hedge at this place, was so tastefully lined as to 
be considered worth preserving. Outwardly, it was constructed 
of roots interwoven with mosses ; but, mixed with black and white 
* They commence breeding early, but have also nests very late in the season. 
YOL. I. S 
