FRINGILLA LINOTA.

Linnæus.

COMMON LINNE T.

PLATE XXVII.

THE bill is thick at the base, sharp at the point. The upper chap of a dusky black, the lower a yellow horn colour. The eyes are brown. The head brown, with a cast of ash colour, and a black, or very dark brown stroke down the middle of each feather.

The feathers on the back are red-brown, with a black stroke down the shaft of each.

The first quill feathers are black, with white edges; the second are also black, but with the edges brown.

The greater and lesser covert feathers are brown, with pale brown edges The throat and upper part of the breast are white, with a few dusky touches pointing downwards.

The lower part of the breast is of a bright shining crimson colour, edged off with a cast of orange. The belly and covert feathers under the tail, are a dusky white.

The tail consists of twelve feathers, and is a little forked. The two middle feathers are shorter than the rest, and black, with red-brown edges; all the rest are bordered with white. The cock has sometimes a black stroke under his throat.

The legs and feet are a dusky black.

The hen wants the crimson colour on the breast. The white feathers in the wing and tail are less bright, and the general hue of colours more dusky than those of the cock.

The linnet feeds on downy seeds. The water ragwort is figured with the birds, on plate xxvii.

Linseed, the seed of linum or flax, is the favourite food of linnets, from whence they derive their name.

These birds are common in all parts of Europe, and though not migratory, shift their quarters, breeding in one part of England, and removing with their young to another. They are sometimes met with entirely white, and there is also a variety which has the quills and tail black, edged with white. Mr. Bewick, either through an oversight, or for some reason which he has not stated, describes this bird as the Fringilla Linaria. Other ornithologists agree in stating that to be a distinct species from the F. Linota.

In disposition the Linnet is gentle and docile, and is much admired for its song, which is lively and sweetly varied, and is generally supposed to be preferable to that of any other small bird. He is also very apt in acquiring the notes of other birds, and, as Albin says, will take the woodlark's or canary's song to perfection." There have also been some instances of his learning to pronounce words distinctly. Upwards of five guineas have been given by a birdcatcher for a call-bird Linnet.

Linnets become familiar so soon after being caught, that it is not worth while to bring them up from the nest, and they, as well as many other birds and animals, are susceptible of strong attachment, not only to each other but to those who rear and feed them.

In one of the numbers of the Monthly Magazine, an account was given by the late Dr. Lettsom, of two Linnets, both male birds, which had not been brought up together, forming a remarkable attachment to each other. When one sang the other joined, and at night each always slept on that side of his cage which was nearest to his friend. Their attachment was more fully ascertained, when they were set at liberty while their cages were cleaned. They then flew to each other's cage, and at length were occasionally indulged by being put together in the same cage, when they always expressed their high gratification by fluttering towards each other, joining their bills together, and each gently picking the tongue of his friend by

* Senecio aquatica.