GREENFINCH. 35 



frequently be found quite close together. I have seen 

 two nests in one small yew tree, and many similar 

 instances have been recorded. The usual site for the 

 nest of this species is in an evergreen of some kind, a 

 dense thicket, or a tall hedge, whitethorn, perhaps, by 

 preference. Other sites are frequently chosen however, 

 as, for instance, in a gorse bush, amongst a cluster of 

 woodbine, amongst ivy growing either on walls or trees, 

 and less frequently fifty or sixty feet from the ground 

 in a tall elm, either amongst the slender branches, or 

 lower down, wedged closely into a crevice of the gnarled 

 and knotted trunk. The nest varies a good deal accord- 

 ing to locality. Some nests are made externally of twigs, 

 others of coarse roots, intermixed with scraps of moss, 

 and lined with finer roots, bits of wool, and quantities of 

 hair and feathers. In other nests the external material 

 is dry grass (I have known a nest made almost entirely of 

 new-mown hay), twigs, and moss. The rim of the nest 

 is generally well felted together, and the cup is smooth 

 and neatly finished, although the lining varies a good 

 deal in quantity and kind of material used. But little 

 or no care is taken to conceal the nest, but generally the 

 amount of surrounding foliage hides it from all but very 

 close scrutiny. The old birds are quiet and seclusive 

 during the nesting period, and the female is a close 

 sitter, leaving the eggs with the greatest reluctance. 

 Both male and female assist in making the nest. Some 

 nests are much larger and better made than others. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement: 

 The eggs of the Greenfinch are from four to six in 

 number, and range from pure white to white tinged with 

 blue or green in ground colour, somewhat sparingly 

 speckled and spotted with reddish-brown, and with 

 underlying markings of grayer brown. As a rule the 

 spots are largest, most numerous, and deepest in colour 



