considered to resemble the word “ twite,” in its sound, and
hence the name of Twite, by which, as well as by that of
Mountain Linnet, this bird is very generally known. Its
food consists of any sort of seed of small size.
Our Mountain Linnet inhabits Denmark, Norway, Sweden,
and indeed Scandinavia generally, but is said to be rare in
Russia, particularly in the eastern portions. It is observed
periodically on its passage in Germany and France, and some
are said to remain and breed in the mountains of Switzerland.
I t is found in Provence, at Genoa, and even as far south as
Rome in winter, but retires to the northern mountains to
breed in summer. M. Temminck says our bird is found in
Japan, where it is known by the name of Zuzume.
The beak is yellow, and hence the term Jlavirostris has by
some authors been attached to this species ; the iricles hazel;
the forehead, crown of the head, ear-coverts, neck behind,
back, and wings, are of two shades of brown, the darker
colour pervading the middle of the feather, the lighter wood-
brown colour on the edges; the greater wing-coverts only
tipped with pale wood-brown, forming one bar across the
wing; quill-feathers brownish black, the primaries with narrow
edges, the tertials with broader margins of pale brown ;
the rump red ; upper tail-coverts like the back in colour; tail-
feathers brownish black, with narrow white external edges,
and broader light brown inner margins ; tail deeply forked;
chin and throat uniform reddish yellow brown, without
streaks, but streaked on the sides of the lower part of the
breast and flanks with dark brown ; lower part of the breast,
belly, and under tail-coverts, dull brownish white; legs, toes,
and claws, very dark brown.
The red colour on the rump is a sexual as well as a seasonal
assumption, peculiar to the male only in summer. The
whole length of the bird is five inches and one quarter ; but
the body being slender, and the tail-feathers lengthy, this
bird has a more elongated appearance than the Common
Linnet, or the Mealy Redpole. From the carpal joint to the
end of the wing, three inches : the first and third quill-
feathers equal in length ; the second longer than either, and
the longest in the wing; the fourth feather one-eighth of an
inch shorter than the third.
The female is without the red colour on the rump, and is
also lighter in colour on the back ; her beak, less decidedly
yellow at the base, is dusky brown at the tip.
Young birds, like the females, are lighter in colour generally,
and are thus distinguished from old males.
The vignette represents a Chamois hunter.