242 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



not seem so prominent in the later spring months, 

 when so many other singers urge their rival claims 

 to notice, he continues in fine voice until the middle 

 of July, when his song is lost in the autumnal moult. 

 With few exceptions the bird is not heard to sing 

 again until early the following year ; so rarely does 

 the bird sing in this interval that we always consider 

 it an occurrence worthy of note. No bird more 

 warmly deserves to be classed as one of our favourite 

 songsters, for the melody of few other species indeed 

 appeals so heartily or so genuinely to our notice. 

 Throughout the early period of its song the Chaffinch 

 is a most pugnacious bird ; his song is a strong 

 incentive to combat, and very frequently rival males 

 may be seen chasing each other and fighting fiercely 

 for the possession of the fair. 



Early in spring the flocks of Chaffinches either 

 disperse to the breeding-grounds in this country or 

 depart for their summer quarters abroad. Although 

 this species pairs so early in the year — in February 

 or March — nest-building does not usually commence 

 before April. The bird's favourite haunts at this 

 season are gardens, orchards, hedgerows and lanes. 

 The nest is built on almost every kind of tree or 

 large bush ; in the forks and crotches of the fruit 

 trees, in the tall hedges or whitethorns standing 

 alone, on the moss- and lichen-draped branches of 

 oaks, elms, birches and alders ; less frequently in 

 a holly, a yew, or amongst ivy and other evergreens. 



