240 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



ling the European Chaffinch, in North Africa and 

 the various islands in the Atlantic off the coast. 



Large flocks of Chaffinches visit the British 

 Islands from the Continent in autumn, and swell 

 the number of our resident birds ; or even visit 

 districts where the species is not found during the 

 summer, as on the Shetlands. The Chaffinch is 

 almost as familiar a bird as the House Sparrow or 

 the Robin, and its attractive colours and lively cheer- 

 ful ways endear it to most of us. It may be met 

 with everywhere, due allowance being made for 

 season. No bird, but the Sparrow,Js more common 

 on the country highways and hedges ; it is also one 

 of the most abundant species found in the lanes, 

 large gardens, orchards and shrubberies ; it shares 

 the open fields with Buntings, Linnets, and other 

 Finches; whilst in winter-time it is a "familiar 

 personality " in farm-yards, on and about ricks and 

 manure-heaps, and even visits our very doors and 

 windows to pick up anything suited to its tastes. 

 Like so many other of our native Finches, the present 

 species to a large extent becomes gregarious at tne 

 approach of winter. To a certain extent the sexes 

 appear to separate at this season ; but this is con- 

 fined almost if not entirely to the migratory in- 

 dividuals, for as far as our own observations extend, 

 the resident Chaffinches of both sexes may be seen 

 in company at all times during autumn and winter. 

 Vast flocks of these migratory Chaffinches visit 



