THE FINCHES* 



The Finches live more on vegetable food than the sparro\\s ; tlieir bills are straighter 

 in their outlines, more eonical, and they have a sharper point. They are, therefore, 

 more of field birds than the sparrows, and roam over a greater extent of eountrv. Thev 

 are also birds of nuieh finer plumage in their tints and markings. 



Several of the Finches are called linnets, and in Scotland, //////■«■ ; whieli words have the 

 same meaning, and simjjly mean that the birds eat the seeds of lint or flux (Jiii/nii), 

 which, as well as the seeds of hemp {<-(UU)(ihiita) and all the smaller mucilaginous and oily 

 seeds, the whole tribe greatly enjoy. 



THK S^•0^\• I'lNCH.f 



The head of tliis bird is of a bluish ash-colour, the back is slaty-brown ; the wing- 

 coverts and secondaries, except tlic two next the body, white. The quill-feathers arc 

 black, as also are the two middle feathers, the rest being white tijiped with black ; the 

 •\vliole of the under surface is pure white. The beak is black during sunnner, but becomes 

 yellowish in winter. 



The habits of this bird greatly resemble those of the snow bunting ; and, like it, is a 

 native of the dreary regions of the north, migrating southwards during the severities of 

 winter. In Europe it is found in the higher range of the Alps and Pyrenees, on the 

 very verge of the line of perpetual snow, whence it descends to the lower range of hills 

 only when compelled by the season ; but its chief resorts are within the arctic circle. 



In jVmerica its migrations are made on an extensive scale. Wilson saj^s, " They 

 extend from the arctic circle, and probably beyond it, to the shores of the Gulf of 

 Mexico, spreading over the whole breadth of the United States from the Atlantic Ucean 

 to Louisiana ; how much farther I am unable to say. 



" About the 20tli of October they make their first appearance in those parts of 

 Pennsylvania east of the Alleghany mountains. At first they are most generally seen 

 on the borders of woods, among the fallen and decayed leaves, in loose flocks of thirty or 

 forty together, always taking to the trees when disturbed. As the winter sets in 

 colder, they approach near the farm-houses and villages; and on the appearance of wluit 

 is usually called Itilling weather, assemble in larger flocks, and seem doubly diligent in 

 searching for food : this increased activity is generally the sure ]n'ognostic of a storm. 



" Wlicn deep snow covers the ground, they become almost half domesticated ; they 

 collect about the barns, stables, and other out-houses, spread over the ground, and even 

 round the steps of the door, not only in the country and villages, but in the midst of otu- 

 large cities, crowding round the tliresliold early in the morning, gleaning up the crumbs, 

 and appearing very lively and familiar. Tlicy have also recourse at this severe season, 

 when tlie face of the earth is shut up from them, to the seeds of many kinds of weeds 

 tliat still rise above the snow in cornei's of fields and low-sliellered situations." Tiiey 

 may now be seen associated with several species of tlieir ((ingcners, ail engaged in 

 the same assiduous searcli for food. The nest of tliese birds is said to be ])laee(l on 

 the ground among the gra.ss, several being clustered togetlier within a little distance of 

 each other. 



' I'Viiigiliu, \ ]'iiiiy:!)lu IS'ivnlis. — l.imi. 



