THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 11 , 1860. 
that have been affected long have become thin, and evidently arc 
suffering from something wrong with the bowels, the vent being 
continually inflamed and clotted. Their diet is chiefly Indian 
corn, with a handful of hemp, and spring water with plenty of 
gravel.—11. R., S. J. M. 
[When the Pigeons are first ill, given quillful of castor oil, 
or some pills of pork fat; afterwards wash the he^d, mouth, 
and nostrils with a solution of borax. I should advise that no 
more hempseed be given to them, and let the Indian corn be 
changed for small hard beans. Let the Pigeons have lime in 
some form, as crushed oyster shells, broken chalk, or old mortar; 
an occasional lettuce to peck will also be beneficial.—B. P. 
Brent.] 
THE CANARY AND THE BRITISH FINCHES. 
(Continued from page 84.) 
4.—THE LINNET (Fringilla Linota). 
. German , der Hiinfling. French, la Linotte. 
GREY LINXET. 
Of all our native Finches the Linnet approaches nearest to 
the Canary. It is a common and well-known bird, much prized 
for its song, and is known under a variety of names, as Common 
Linnet, Grey Linnet, Rose Linnet, and Red Linnet — names 
given to it in accordance with its colours. The prevailing 
colour of the plumage is greyish-brown, darker on the upper 
parts, and inclining to whitish beneath. The quill-feathers of 
wings and tail approach to black, having white edging at their 
lower parts. The male and female differ somewhat in the shade 
of colour: thus, even in the nest the young cocks may be 
selected from the hens by the redder or more rust-brown shade 
on their backs. When older the cocks will be found to have 
more white on the edges and base of the quill-feathers of wings 
and tails. 
The sexes are further distinguishable in the adult state by the 
red colour of the cock’s breast, which is of a bright rosy red. 
In autumn, when the birds are fresh moulted, this red colour is 
not very conspicuous, because the feathers are tipped with a 
band of a duller shade; but as winter wanes and spring 
advances, under that beautiful providence of the Creator, these 
little birds, not requiring so abundant a plumage in summer as in 
winter, these duller edges are gradually worn off, and the bird 
appears in his gayer or nuptial plumage. Tho beak of the 
cock also assumes a bluish tint. This change of plumage is 
common to many other birds. 
Young Linnets brought up from the nest do not in confine¬ 
ment attain this red colour on the breast; and old-caught birds 
when they moult in confinement also lose the rosy breasts. 
Nevertheless, they are still easily distinguishable from the hens, 
as the lower parts of the feathers present a yellowish shade; 
whereas the breasts of the hens do not present this marking, but 
are more spotted with longitudinal dark spots almost running 
into stripes at the sides. 
The adult male lias also some shade of red or carmine on the 
feathers on the head above the base of the bill, from which 
cause it has sometimes been confused with the greater Redpole. 
In the general marking and distribution of colour they closely 
resemble the wild Canary, except that the white in the tail and 
wings is wanting in the Canary, and the rust-brown on the back 
and rosy red of the breast and head of the Linnet are represented 
by olive green and yellowish in the Canary. In their natural 
habits they also bear much resemblance to that bird. 
They build their nests mostly in gorse or furze bushes, and, 
where these fail them, in almost any bushy shrubs. The nest is 
composed of roots, wool, dry grass and leaves, and lined with 
fine roots and hairs. They lay from four to six bluish-white 
eggs, spotted with light hrown and dark specks. The young, 
are hatched in fourteen days. They feed on seeds and frequent 
the stubbles and waste places, destroying immense quantities ot ; 
the seeds of weeds, such as kilk or wild mustard, plantain, chick- 
weed, shepherd’s purse, &c., thus rendering much service to 
the agriculturist, though they are thought to cause some waste 
to the crops of turnip and rapeseed. 
When intended to be reared by hand, they should be taken 
from the nest when about ten days old, or when the tail has 
begun to sprout. They may be fed on sopped bread mixed with 1 
maw seed (poppy seed), and a little hard-boiled egg. 
Some persons use rapeseed; but if this is employed it should I 
be first scalded and then well washed to deprive it of its pungency. 
Rapeseed, however, I regard as much too pungent and oily to be ; 
a wholesome food for birds in confinement. Hempseed, ot which 
all birds are very fond, is also too fattening and exciting, and j 
should only be used medicinally. 
The young when hungry will stretch up their heads and gape 
open their mouths, when the food may be put in a small lump 
at a time by means of a flattened stick or cut quill. They require 
feeding often, and care must be taken that their food is never 
sour. 
If intended to learn any tune, it should be whistled to them I 
several times after each meal, or played to them on a flageolet or 
bird-organ, as directed for teaching Bullfinches, or they may be 
hung in company of any good singing birds to learn their song. 
The Linnet is much prized for the readiness with which it j 
learns the note of other birds. Bechstein mentions one he had 
that sung the Nightingale’s song ; and he also mentions one that \ 
was taught to speak a few words, but, he adds, not very 1 
distinctly. 
In some of our large towns the Linnet fancy is carried to a 
great height. They are also taught the Woodlark’s note, and 
when they sing it well are considered of much value. The 
lYoodlark’s song being considered so desirable, and that bird 
being so very difficult to keep through the moult, when the easily- j 
kept Linnet performs well it is almost beyond price among 
fanciers. 
Clubs, I believe, are formed in London and other towns where 
Linnet fanciers meet and show their birds for small prizes or 
bets. The birds to compete are brought forward, and umpires are 
appointed to score the number of “ wheatings,” and “ fenrings,” | 
which the competitors may utter. That bird which performs 
the best without introducing any of its natural notes, chuck, : 
chuck a chicee, would be declared the winner. 
The fanciers have also a manner of moulting their birds off at 
pleasure, or “getting them up,” I think it is called. They are 
placed in a small cage in a warm cupboard, and fed highly on 
hempseed ; as they get accustomed to the place and to find their 
food, the door is gradually closed till they are kept in darkness, j 
when they moult off in about a fortnight, and are again gradually | 
exposed to light, when they come out in a new plumage. Such, , 
I am credibly informed, is the process. • 
Towards autumn Linnets congregate in large flocks and i 
frequent the stubbles and waste lands. They rise and settle very | 
much at one time, and when they have done feeding congregate l 
on some trees and sing or twitter in chorus. When thus col¬ 
lected in large flights, the bird-catchers capture them in great 
numbers by means of clapnets and call-birds, and these are sold 
to the bird-dealers by the dozen. A fresh-caught cock Linnet 
costs from 4 d. to 6d., the price rising according to the length 
of time they have been in a cage, and well “ meated off”—that 
is, accustomed to feed on the seed offered them. At first they 
generally get a mixture of rape, linseed, and crushed hempseed, 
and after a time are used to rape and canary seed. For a con¬ 
tinuance, I consider that canary seed is the best food, with an 
occasional treat of chickweed, shepherd’s purse, and plantain. 
Not being a very active bird, but of rather quiet habit, they are 
apt to become too fat, which induces disease and ultimate death ; 
though when kept in health they sometimes live from ten to fifteen 
years. In confinement their natural song is soft and mellow. 
Botli the young reared from the nest and old-caught birds will 
pair and breed readily with the Canary. The hybrid produce, 
called Linnet Mules, are hardly to be distinguished from a com¬ 
mon grey Canary, but are much prized as excellent singers, often 
singing a fancy song composed of the notes of all the birds that 
hang within their hearing. 
At the Crystal Palace Show, November, 1859, two pied Linnet 
Mules were exhibited. B. P. Brent. 
(To he continued .) 
