236 MOUNTAIN LINNET, OK TWITE. 
with the last, though perhaps selecting the more 
upland districts, when a choice can be obtained, 
but, in few, if any instances, appearing with the 
same regularity, or in such abundance. They 
are known to the southern bird-catchers by their 
cry, and the difference in this was in fact the first 
thing that drew our own attention to them in the 
south of Scotland, their manners being in other 
respects similar to those of the last. Their nest 
is described as being placed in bushes of whin* 
and heath.f In the localities where we have 
observed it, the heath where it was placed grew 
with considerable rankness, or the thick and 
varied Alpine brush and herbage which clothed 
the shelving rocks and precipitous banks of the 
coast, furnished it with a secure and well sheltered 
concealment. The young were seen in Suther- 
Iandshire fledged, having left the nest, and able 
to make short excursions before the middle of 
June. The nest and eggs are both very similar 
to those of the last. The call of the Mountain 
Linnet, during winter, is a sharp single note, 
closely resembling the pronunciation of its com- 
mon name of “ Twite.” The song during the 
breeding time is pleasing, and of the same gene- 
ral character with that of the common Linnet ; it 
is often sung from a perch on some exalted rock, 
and at times when fluttering above the spot or 
shelve which -was supposed to contain its nest. 
In Ireland Mr Thompson states it to be partially 
* J. D. Salmon in Loudon's Magazine. 
t Low, Dunn. 
