BRITISH BIRDS® 
175 
fuch as might arife from age, food, or other acci- 
dental circumftances. The female has no red on 
the bread; or rump, and the fpot on her forehead is 
of a faffron colour , her plumage in general is not 
fo bright as that of the male. 
Birds of this kind are not unfrequent in this if- 
land ; they breed chiefly in the northern parts, where 
they are known by the name of French Linnets. 
They make a Ihallow open neft, compofed of dried 
grafs and wool, and lined with hair and feathers : 
The female lays four eggs, aimoft white, marked 
with reddifh fpots. In the winter they mix with 
other birds, and migrate in flocks to the fouthern 
counties : They feed on fmall feeds of various 
kinds, efpecially thofe of the alder, of which they 
are extremely fond ; they hang, like the Titmoufe, 
with their back downwards, upon the branches 
while feeding, and in this fituation may eafily be 
caught with lime twigs. This fpecies is found in 
every part of Europe, from Italy to the moll ex- 
treme parts of the Ruffian empire. In America 
and the northern parts of Afia it is likewife very 
common. 
V, 
