The Linnet. 
253 
so call its chirping, is far from agreeable : this arises, 
however, not from want of powers, but from its attend- 
ing solely to the note of the parent bird. A Sparrow, 
when fledged, was taken from the nest and educated 
under a linnet : it also heard by accident a goldfinch ; 
and its song was in consequence a mixture of the two. 
The male is particularly distinguished by a jet-black 
spot under the bill upon a whitish ground. Sparrows 
are found nearly in every country of the world. 
THE L1N.NET, {Fringiila linota or Linota cannabina,) 
Is about the size of the goldfinch ; and compensates, by 
an extremely melodious voice, the want of variety in its 
plumage, which, except in the red-breasted species, is 
nearly all of one colour. Its musical talents are, like 
those of many other birds, repaid with captivity ; for it 
is kept in cages on account of its singing. 
The Eedpole (Fringiila linaria) is a small species of 
Linnet, little more than four inches in length, distin- 
guished by a deep blood-red spot on the crown of his 
head. He visits Britain in the autumn and stays with 
us during the winter, his favourite summer residence 
being far away in the north. Eedpoles are taken in great 
numbers by the bird-catchers in the autumn. Their only 
song is a twittering note, but they are often attached by 
a brace and chain to an open cage and trained to draw 
their water in a bucket. 
The Green Linnet is rather larger than the house spar- 
row. Its head and back are of a yellowish-green, the 
