THE CHAFFINCH 241 



beech woods in November to feed upon the mast ; 

 the earher arrivals are mostly males ; these are 

 followed later by flocks of females, after which the 

 sexes mix indiscriminately. Chaffinches frequent 

 the fields in winter-time, especially where weeds 

 are common or where manure has been lately spread. 

 After spending the entire day, mostly upon the 

 ground, they resort at sunset to the nearest shrub- 

 beries to roost, often mixing with Bramblings and 

 Redwings. Very pretty the cock-birds look when 

 running about the bare roads in an ambling kind 

 of way, or when flying before us with the white 

 patches in the wings and tail glistening in the 

 sunlight. 



The Chaffinch is one of our earliest songsters in 

 spring — one of the very first to tell us of the dim 

 approach of a more genial season. In South Devon- 

 shire this species regains its cheery song the first 

 week in February, but this event is quite a month 

 later in Yorkshire. For the first few weeks after 

 the Chaffinch regains his voice, his loud melody is 

 the most characteristic short song of the season. 

 It is heard everywhere, and at intervals all day 

 long. Though a short and even monotonous song, 

 there is a freshness and vigour about it, a heart- 

 lifting earnestness about the notes, not reached by 

 many other birds. All the bird's vitality seems to 

 be converted into music, all hisjoyousness expressed 

 in song. Although the Chaffinch's melody may 



