The BROWN LINNET (_Cannabina linota_) is five inches long and eight and
a half inches broad across the wings. The colour of the feathers is very
variable, according to sex, age, and season of the year. During the
spring the adult male is most beautiful. The front of its head is bright
blood-red, the back of the head, neck, and sides of the throat are grey,
the back rust-brown, the rump whitish, the face and part of the neck a
whitish grey-brown, the breast a blazing blood-red; the remainder of the
lower part of the body white, and the sides a light brown. During the
autumn the beautiful red tints of its plumage are concealed under the
light borders of the feathers; but as these wear off the creature regains
its brilliancy of hue. In the female the head and neck are brown, or of a
deep yellowish ash-grey, the feathers spotted upon the shafts. The mantle
is rust-brown, the feathers of the back having a light edge, and a dark
streak along the shaft. The upper part of the breast and sides are light
yellowish brown, thickly marked with blackish brown along the body. The
young resemble the mother, but have more conspicuous spots upon their
somewhat paler plumage. In such birds as are captured when young, the
feathers never acquire their beautiful red colour, and old ones, when
in confinement, soon change their brilliant hues for a pale yellow or
yellowish red.
The Brown Linnet inhabits the whole of Europe, a large portion of
Northern Asia, Asia Minor, and Syria, and during its migrations
appears regularly in North-western Africa, though rarely seen in the
north-eastern part of that continent: in Germany it is exceedingly
common, particularly in hilly districts; but it avoids high mountains and
extensive forests. These birds are of a social and cheerful disposition,
preferring society even during the breeding season; they assemble as
autumn approaches in companies of about a hundred, and during the winter
associate with various other species. They fly to and fro over the
country notwithstanding their parental duties; indeed, we observed a
Brown Linnet early in the summer in our garden, at a distance of nearly a
mile from its nest; and, strange to say, in these excursions the female
frequently accompanies her mate. The affectionate tenderness shown by
these little creatures towards each other is very striking. Should one
of the pair be shot, the other will at once come to the ground, uttering
most piteous cries, as though it could not endure the loss of its beloved
companion; the same attachment is exhibited to the eggs and nestlings;
so that the parents frequently allow themselves to be captured rather
than be separated from their young. The flight of the Brown Linnet is
light, rapid, and hovering; when about to descend, the bird wheels
around in circles, and often almost touches the earth whilst on the
wing, then rises again into the air, and continues its flight for some
distance before settling. It hops nimbly over the ground, and, when
singing in the trees, is usually perched upon the topmost branch, or on
a projecting twig. Its voice may be heard from March to August, and the
young sing from the time of their moulting in the autumn all through
the bright winter days of November and December. The young male easily
learns to imitate the notes of other birds, but forgets them after a few
repetitions. We have heard a Brown Linnet that could perfectly imitate
the song of the Chaffinch, and another that exactly copied the notes of
the Siskin. Naumann mentions instances of its having even learnt the
song of the Goldfinch, Lark, and Nightingale. This species begins its
preparation for building, early in April, and breeds two or three times
within the year. Its favourite nesting-place is among short brushwood, at
no great distance from the ground. The nest is built externally of twigs,
fibrous roots, and blades of grass, within which is a second layer more
carefully constructed, but composed of the same materials, and this again
is lined with wool and a little horsehair. The brood consists of from
four to five eggs of a whitish-blue colour, marked with a few reddish
spots; the female sits for thirteen days, after which time the young are
most assiduously tended by both parents until they leave the nest, the
last brood always remaining under supervision for a longer period than
their predecessors. Whilst the female is sitting she is cheered by the
song of the male, who usually perches on a neighbouring tree. Unlike the
Chaffinches, these birds live peaceably together during the breeding
season, the males often taking little excursions in company, or they will
perch and sing together, not out of rivalry but in harmony with each
other. The following account is given of the proceedings of a pair of
these little songsters that had made their home close to a house:--"The
nestlings who, when discovered, had just left the shell, remained
perfectly quiet in their snug abode, even when expecting or receiving
their food, but were no sooner fledged than they at once began to try the
power of their wings, continuing these efforts during an entire evening
with so much success, that before break of day they had finally left the
nest. They remained for some time close at hand upon the thickly-foliaged
trees, and then, accompanied by their parents, quitted the spot. These
birds were a source of great pleasure to us, as, contrary to the usual
habits of the species, they did not leave off feeding when we approached,
even if accompanied by several people. The time that elapsed between the
different meals given to the young was not more than twelve or sixteen
minutes; when feeding them the parents would perch upon a tree close at
hand, gently utter their call-note, and then flutter towards the nest,
which was always approached from the same side. Each young bird was fed
in turn, the male commencing operations; when both he and his mate had
emptied their crops into the gaping beaks of their progeny, they flew
away to obtain a fresh supply. The female but once came back alone, and
only on that occasion did she take the precedence of her mate in feeding
the brood. Every morning before leaving the nest the mother carefully
arranged and cleaned her little domicile, and instead of throwing out
what she cleared away, swallowed it, and spit it out again at some
distance from the nest. We never observed the male bird assist in this
business except once, and have no doubt that the precaution exercised
by the mother was intended to prevent any trace of her brood from being
discovered." The Brown Linnets but seldom leave their progeny, and
will continue to feed them long after they have been placed in a cage.
Bird-fanciers often take advantage of this, and we have never known a
case in which the parents under such circumstances have neglected to
provide for the wants of their offspring, so that the old birds may
frequently be enticed farther and farther from their breeding place by
the gradual removal of the cage to a distance. This manner of feeding the
young has, however, its disadvantages, as they remain wild and shy for a
much longer period than if brought up by hand.