L1NOTA CANNABINA.
Linnet.
Fringilla cannabina, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 87.
•— Unota, GmeL edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 916.
Zigttrinus cannabina, iiocbt, Syst. Baier. Zool., tom. i. p. 231.
'Linaria cannabina, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 564.
Canndbim pinctorvm, et. (frbust&rwn, Brehm, Vög. Deutschl., pp. 276, 277.
, ' / . . Unota, G. I t Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 1840, p. 45.
Vmta cannabina, Botiap. Geog. and Comp. List of Birds of Eur. and N. Amer., p. 54.
Thk Linnet is one of our strictly indigenous bird», as much so as the Thrush, the Blackbird, or the Magpie,
¿ut is less frequently noticed ; for although it may often be seen on the wing, few who observe it know what
it really is, or distinguish it from a Sparrow or a Greenfinch. When fully adult the males are extremely
ieautiftil, their crown and chest being washed in early spring with a delicate rosy hue, which heightens as
e season advances ; hence at midsummer they are finer than at the nuptial period, the grey tips of the
‘leathers, whj£H overlap their roseate portions, having fallen off, leaving the underlying scarlet more exposed,
besides v/fch h the < >lour itself appears to increase in depth until the autumnal moult, when the bird assumes
t;:u! »early nnrtarf i warmer clothing of winter.
Tbe (;;siril)tui*»n of this common species over the three kingdoms is so very general that even the Orkneys
ibid t* •• Hebrides an not without its presence. Although its nature leads it to prefer barren tracts of country,
forty eommoi % and wastes bordering woods, it readily accommodates itself to the most highly cultivated
ciitirictti. uft^n frCtpM.-' »*:; gardens, lawns, and shrubberies, especially those to which open fields are
c-ojiU'ruo;?*-. I'n April and May it constructs a round cup-shaped nest among the shrubs of pleasure-grounds
and Hie furze land goi-s* of our common lands; in the latter case it is subject to much persecution by the
village bov* why wantonly take its eggs, and in the former it is shot by the gardener on account of its habit
of pOfmng his rndish-seeds while in pod.
WWii tbe bi«eding-season is over and the yonng have their pinions perfected, the Linnets become gregarious,
and ai semble in flocks. During the winter months they leave the gardens and furzy commons,
where they hav? spent the summer, and betake themselves to the open parts of the country, visiting pasture-
lands, clover-le/s, stubble-fields, and even farm-lands; and should the winter prove rigorous, they seek the
warmer counties, and perhaps leave our islands altogether for a time.
The Linnet, like the Goldfinch, the Siskin, and the Redpole, contributes greatly to the support of many
pcior people, being the principal "stock in trade” of the numerous bird-catchers and bird-dealers of the
metropolis. The number of persons engaged in its capture and sale are indeed far greater than is usually
supposed; and i. statistical account of them, could it be correctly ascertained, would be both interesting
and surprising. It is not its pleasing colour alone that renders tbe Linnet such a favourite cage-bird;
being a seed-, and not an insect-eater, it is easily kept, readily succumbs to captivity, soon becomes tame
aud familiar, suit I during the months of spring constantly cheers its possessor with its pleasing innocent
song. Its natun 1 food is the seeds of many of our common weeds, the wild rape, and the dandelion; but it
would seem that U occasionally does much damage among the fields of wheat and other grain. The gravest
charge I have liei«1 brought against it was made by Mr. Smither of Churt, a close observer of nature and
no mean authority in matters of tbe kind. Writing to me in July 1863, he s a y s " No one would believe
the damage don« to wheat this season by tbe Linnets, unless they saw i t ; in many places the ground is
covered with chai'l, and the ears entirely emptied. I have seen spots of standing wheat the ears of which
were covered with Linnets ; and «^farmer I was with this morning estimates the loss by these birds at the
rate of two sacks i i an acre and a half of wheat; he was greatly pleased therefore at my shooting some of
them. Whether (hey overbalance the damage they commit by the quantity of weed-seeds they consume, I
««mot say. ‘ Pum b ’ write* very strongly in favour of small birds; but I think he does not quite understand
thje nature of them.” ,
Besides being icry common in tile British Islands, the Linnet is also found all over Europe from
Upland to the Me literranean, in North Africa, and in Madeira; I have myself seen it in abundance in the
Maltese group of i lauds ; and that it goes as far east as Asia Minor and Persia is certain, as 1 have thence
received specimens I am not aware of its having been found in India; neither does it form part of the
avifhirtia of America .
“ Towards the ent of autumn," says Macgillivray, “ the Linnets collect into flocks, which unite as the winter