. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . the Linnet fo much,that Buffon fuppofes them to be the fame, and thatthe red fpots on the head and breafl are equivocalmarks, differing at different periods, appearing atone time and difappearing at another, in the famebird. It is certain that, during a ftate of capti-vity, the red marks difappear entirely; and that,in the time of moulting, they are nearly obliter-ated, and for fome time do not recover their ufualluflre. But hower plaufible this may appear, it isnot well founded. The Redpole is fmaller thanthe Linnet; it makes its nef
. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . the Linnet fo much,that Buffon fuppofes them to be the fame, and thatthe red fpots on the head and breafl are equivocalmarks, differing at different periods, appearing atone time and difappearing at another, in the famebird. It is certain that, during a ftate of capti-vity, the red marks difappear entirely; and that,in the time of moulting, they are nearly obliter-ated, and for fome time do not recover their ufualluflre. But hower plaufible this may appear, it isnot well founded. The Redpole is fmaller thanthe Linnet; it makes its nefl on the ground, v/hilethe latter builds in furze and thorn hedges : Theydiffer likewife in the colour of their eggs—that ofthe Redpole being of a very pale green, with ruflycoloured fpots : The head of the female is afli-co-loured, fpotted with black, and of a dull yellow onthe breafl and fides, which are ftreaked with dufkylines.—Redpoles are common in the northern partsof England, where they breed chiefly in mountain-ous places. 174 BRITISH LESSER REDPOLE, {Frlngilla JLinariay Lin.—Le Sizeririy BufF.) Length about five inches: Bill pale brown,point dufky j eyes hazel; the forehead is markedwith a pretty large fpot, of a deep purplifh red;the breall is of the fame colour, but lefs bright;the feathers on the back are dufky, edged with palebrown; the greater and leffer coverts tipped withdirty white, forming two light bars acrofs thewing; the belly and thighs are of a dull white ; thequills and tail duflcy, edged with dirty white ; thelatter fomewhat forked; legs dulky. In our birdthe rump was fomewhat reddifh, in which it agreeswith the Twite of Mr Pennant, and moll probablyconftitutes one fpecies with it and the MountainLinnet, the differences being immaterial, and merely BRITISH BIRDS* I75 fuch as might arife from age, food, or other acci-dental circumflances. The female has no red onthe breaft or rump, and the fpot on her forehead isof a faiFron colour j her p
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