BRITISH BIRDS. 



41 



very like that of tlie canary, the eggs also resembling those 

 of the latter bird, except in point of size, for they are 

 larger. Two or three broods of four or five are produced 

 every season, and the young are easily reared on bread and 

 milk. 



These birds breed very freely among themselves, and 

 with allied species in both cage and aviary, but have noth- 

 ing much to recommend theui to the notice of amateurs, 

 for the song is a croaking squeal that is most unpleasant ; 

 but, strange to say, the call note is musical and pleasing. 



The food consists of seeds, buds of trees, anrl the succulent 

 portion of various plants. Much of the damage done in 

 gardens and elsewhere, anil attributed to the sparrow, 

 should, in reality, be laid to the charge of the greenfinch, 

 which has very few redeeming qualities, if any, to compen- 

 sate the horti- 

 culturist and V " 

 farmer for the "5%> 

 damage done to 

 their c r o ps. 

 Length, 6 

 inches ; tail, 2A. 



Chaffinch. 

 — The scientific 

 name for this 

 and the follow- 

 ing species were 

 not very happily 

 selected, for there is nothing of the finch about either of 

 them. 



The forehead of the male is black ; the top of the head 

 and the nape of the neck are greyish blue — in very old 

 subjects, deep blue ; the breast is reddish brown, and there 

 is a conspicuous white mark on the wing; the head is 



^^< 



Fig. 14.-77(6 Chaffinch. 



