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LINNET. 
Provincial. — Lintwhite. Greater Redpole. Grey Linnet. Lintie.* 
This species is subject to much variety, with respect to the red mark- 
ings which, at certain ages and seasons, are found upon the head and 
breast, and this has occasioned it to be multiplied into two distinct 
species by various ornithologists, all of whom seem to agree that the 
general colour of both are alike, but assert that the greater redpole has 
none of this colour upon the breast. On comparing the various 
authors who have given this as a distinct species, we find they all make 
it nearly the same as the redpole, but not quite so rufous on the upper 
parts. The principal distinction seems to be in the breast being of a 
fine crimson colour, and none of that colour on the head. 
Linnaeus does not appear to have considered these birds as distinct, 
and we have no doubt he was perfectly right ; for they are to be met 
with in all gradations, with respect to the red marking on the head and 
breast, sometimes on one of those parts only, at other times on neither: 
this depends wholly on age and season. From the vast number we 
have killed at all seasons, in which the greatest variety of those mark- 
ings were observed, we do not hesitate to pronounce them the same 
species. 
It is probable, however, that the full plumage of this bird does not 
take place till the second or third year, for we have seen them in all 
gradations in the breeding season ; some of which had scarcely any tinge 
on the head or breast, and yet by dissection have proved males. The 
young, for some time after they leave their nest, resemble the female, 
and if taken into confinement in that state, rarely, if ever, throw out 
the red spots, or become so rufous upon the back; and even those which 
are taken in full maturity, most frequently lose all the red feathers in 
the first moulting, which never return. In these different stages they 
are commonly known by the name of Brown Linnet. 
The male in full plumage has the bill bluish ; irides hazel ; the head 
light brown ; the feathers on the crown darkest in their middle ; sides 
of the neck inclining to ash-colour ; the forehead rosy red ; the back, 
scapulars, and coverts of the wings, fine deep rufous-brown, lightest on 
the rump, and palest on the margin of each feather; the breast is 
brown, with more or less spots like that on the head; belly light 
rufous-brown ; vent almost white ; quill-feathers dusky black, with 
more or less white on the exterior and interior webs, which forms a 
conspicuous bar of that colour on the wing; the tail is forked, the 
feathers, like those of the quills, black, margined with white, which 
colour predominates on the inner webs; coverts of the tail black, edged 
with grey ; legs brown. The weight of the male about five drams. 
