Part 18

A single example of this bird, which inhabits the high mountains of Central and Southern Europe, was observed consorting with Larks near Rye in Sussex in February 1905.

The head and neck are grey; upper parts brown with darker centres; wing coverts, secondaries, and the whole of the under parts white; tail feathers, except the central pair, which are brown, white tipped with black; chin black. Length 6·4 in.; wing 4·53 in.

THE LINNET Linota cannabina (Linnæus)

A delightful little bird of sombre plumage is the Linnet, and as a cage-bird he has long been a prime favourite. In this country he is generally distributed and fairly common. Almost any kind of country suits him--hedges near open and cultivated land, furze-clad commons, or the wild hillside all afford him shelter and food. In habits he is gregarious and may be seen during the winter in small parties of from eight to ten flying from place to place, with cheery twittering, and if the weather be severe, especially when snow is on the ground, he collects in enormous flocks of several hundreds. Their food consists of seeds and berries, though insects are largely eaten during the summer months. The nest is placed in a furze bush or hedge at no great distance from the ground, and is a neat and compact structure of grass and bents bound together with a little moss and wool, and lined with hair, wool, and feathers. The six eggs are of a delicate pale blue blotched with moderately large reddish-brown spots. Two broods, at least, are reared in the season, and when the cares of housekeeping are completed they wander about at random until the following spring brings a return of more serious occupation. The song, although very pleasing, cannot be called great, and is a kind of continuous chuckling which is often delivered whilst on the wing. The flight is as a rule strong, rapid, and undulating, the flocks often travelling considerable distances to reach a favourite feeding-ground or when returning to roost in a well-sheltered plantation. During the courting season the male indulges also in a very pretty love flight; he rises some distance in the air and then slowly descends with rapid flutterings of his wings and out-spread tail, singing at the same time with all his might.

In autumn large numbers reach us from the Continent, and there is also a certain amount of emigration among our home-bred birds.

The upper parts in the male are brownish, greyer on the nape and more rufous on the mantle. Wing and tail feathers black with white outer margins. Crown of the head and breast deep crimson; flanks brown; belly white. Length 5·5 in.; wing 3·15 in. In winter the red on the crown and breast is deep brown and the feathers of those parts have broad yellowish margins. The female resembles the male on the upper parts, but the mantle is duller and the white of the primaries is much less in extent. The under parts are yellowish brown streaked with dark brown, and the head is also streaked with brown.

The young resemble the female, but are paler.

THE MEALY REDPOLL Linota linaria (Linnæus)

This species breeds in circumpolar regions far north above the limit of tree growth, wherever a few dwarf birch or willow afford it enough cover for nesting, and is only an irregular winter resident in our islands. It has been subdivided into various races by systematic writers, on differences which need not concern us here, but although the commonest form met with in these islands belongs, as we would naturally suppose, to the North European race, the Greenland form has also been noticed on several occasions. Wandering through the country in small parties and associating with our native Redpolls, this species frequents gardens, stack-yards, or still more frequently, the low scrub that may be found in many places along the coast. With us its food consists almost entirely of small seeds, but during the breeding season in the north it feeds largely on insects. Its stays with us are of short duration, for it rarely arrives before the first cold weather in November and leaves our shores again early in February to revisit as soon as possible its northern home.

It is very similar in general appearance to the following species, but is larger and paler, especially on the rump. Length 5·1 in.; wing 2·9 in. The Greenland race is larger still, almost equalling the Linnet in size. There is still another form which has occurred in these islands and which may be recognised by its nearly white rump.

THE LESSER REDPOLL Linota rufescens (Vieillot)

This species is a regular resident with us and may be found in most of our counties. As a breeding bird, however, it becomes scarcer in the south of England and local in Scotland, its chief haunts at that time of year being the north of England, Wales, and Ireland.

During the winter months it wanders about in large parties and its chuckling call-note may often be heard as they pass from one field to another. It nests chiefly in woods, the nest being placed against the trunk of some tree at a moderate height from the ground. The nest is an extremely neat structure of twigs and moss, beautifully formed and lined with vegetable down, wool, and feathers. The eggs, except in size, are much like those of the Linnet, but the ground colour is darker and the spots are smaller. In summer the Lesser Redpoll feeds chiefly on insects, but seeds and berries are eaten at all seasons and especially in winter.

They may be found in all kinds of country, generally associating with other Finches and Buntings, but they are rather more partial to woods, gardens, and orchards. Their song bears a family resemblance to that of the Linnet, but is not so melodious or sweet. This bird is very tame and confiding, and may often be watched as it moves about in the trees of some orchard, examining them carefully for insects and reminding one in its actions of the Tits.

The male has the upper parts of a warm brown with darker streaks. Lores and throat black; the crown, rump, and breast are carmine; rest of the under parts whitish, becoming browner with dark streaks on the flanks. In autumn the red tints on the rump and breast are much obscured by the broader pale edgings to the feathers. The female is rather smaller than the male and lacks the red on the breast and rump. The breast is buff with dark stripes, and the rump similar in colour to the mantle but paler. The young resemble the hen but lack the red on the crown. Length 4·75 in.; wing 2·75 in.

In winter this species shows far more red on the breast than does the Mealy Redpoll at the same time of year.

THE TWITE Linota flavirostris (Linnæus)

Inhabiting moorlands and breeding among the heather, this gregarious species may be found from the Midlands northwards. In England, however, it cannot be called common, but in parts of North Wales, Scotland, and Ireland it is abundant. It nests in colonies, the nests being placed on the ground or in a low bush; they are neatly made of rootlets, pieces of heather, and moss, lined with hair and wool.

The eggs, like those of the other Redpolls, are blue spotted with red. Two broods are reared in the season, and as soon as the first brood is fledged the whole colony will sometimes move off to an adjacent spot for the second brood, so that they may be found with young in the nest one week, and a few days later no sign of them or their young will be found at that spot. During the summer their food consists largely of insects, while seeds form their chief diet in winter. After the breeding season they leave the upper moorlands and wander south, a fair number reaching the south of England, especially in severe winters. It chiefly frequents the wild open country and marshes by the sea-shore, but in the more wooded localities it is rarely found and it seldom perches on trees. It has a pleasing little song and the call-note is a loud "twah-it," whence its English name of Twite.

General colour above dark brown with slightly paler edgings to each feather. Wing feathers blackish with white outer margins, as in the Linnet. Tail somewhat forked, the feathers being black with whitish inner margins to the three outer pairs. Under parts buffish white streaked with brown. In the male the lores, cheeks, throat, and rump are suffused with rose red, but the female shows no red whatever. The bill in both sexes is deep horn-coloured in summer and yellowish in winter. The young resemble the female. Length 5 in.; wing 3 in.

THE BULLFINCH Pyrrhula europæa, Vieillot

Better known probably as a cage-bird than as a wild inhabitant of our woods and gardens, the Bullfinch is nevertheless by no means rare. It inhabits woods, coppices, and thick hedgerows, and is rather a skulking species, but may be recognised when on the wing by its white rump. The call-note is a rather plaintive "whee-ou," and it is easily attracted by imitating its call. Possibly it pairs for life, at least it is generally found in pairs, and even during the winter the male shows considerable affection for his mate, generally keeping close to her and frequently feeding her. The song is a feeble medley of soft flute-like notes, and is generally accompanied by a side to side motion of the tail and body. The nest is commenced in May and consists of a shallow platform of twigs placed three or four feet from the ground in a thick bush or hedge, and is lined with fine rootlets. The eggs, usually four or five in number, are greenish blue spotted and streaked round the larger end with black or pale purplish lilac. The young are fed by regurgitation, insects forming a large proportion of the parents' food during the summer.

When fledged young and old wander about for a time together, but the old birds soon forage on their own account and leave the young to look after themselves. Berries, especially those of the privet, are largely consumed in autumn, but all kinds of seeds form their diet during the winter months, and in spring they turn their attention to young buds, more especially those of fruit-trees. For this they may well be forgiven as they make ample compensation by destroying caterpillars innumerable during the summer months.

The male has the whole of the head a glossy blue-black, mantle brownish grey. Larger wing coverts black tipped with whitish to form a conspicuous bar. Primaries brown; secondaries and tail glossy black; rump white. The whole of the under parts bright brick-red turning to white on the vent. The female is duller and the under parts are of a uniform brown. The young resemble the hen but lack the black crown. Length 6 in.; wing 3·25 in.

This species is generally distributed throughout the wooded districts of England, Wales, and Ireland, but is rather more local in Scotland.

THE SCARLET GROSBEAK Pyrrhula erythina (Pallas)

The Scarlet Grosbeak breeds from Northern Russia across Siberia to Kamchatka, and in winter it is chiefly found in the Oriental region. As a straggler on migration, however, it has visited many places in Europe to the west of Russia, and one or two examples have been obtained in this country.

The adult male has the greater part of its plumage rose red, browner on the mantle and flanks. Quills and tail dark brown with paler buffish margins. The female is olive brown with darker striations, the under parts dull white, buffish on the throat and breast, and striped with brown on the flanks. Length 5·5 in.; wing 3·25 in.