44 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



distinctly yellow, and the streaks, as shown in the figure, are 

 fainter. Ihe bill, brownish red in the young, become dull red 

 in the adult ; the legs are slate-grey, and the irides crimson. 

 Length, 9*5 ins. Wing, 5*9 ins. Tarsus, '85 in. 



Family FRINGILLID^. Finches. 



Greenfinch or Green Linnet. CJiloris chlorls (Linn.). 



Though resident throughout the British Isles the Greenfinch 

 (Plate 16) is also migratory ; its movements are erratic in 

 winter. Many leave us in September and return in March, 

 and in autumn passage migrants and winter visitors reach our 

 northern, eastern and even western shores ; the return migra- 

 tion is in March and April, but flocks, possibly north-bound 

 immigrants, appear in February. Certain areas are deserted 

 in winter, but wandering flocks may be met with anywhere ; 

 it is not possible to say if these are residents or winter visitors. 

 Our race is distributed throughout north and central Europe, 

 and allied forms are found in south Europe, north Africa and 

 western Asia. 



In March the male Greenfinch begins his monotonous long- 

 drawn " dwee," which many describe as his call-note. It is 

 also the main part of his song ; he perches repeating it per- 

 sistently as a love-note or challenge throughout the breeding 

 season, and does not tire until summer is well advanced. In 

 addition he has a pleasant twittering song, often interrupted by 

 the droning "dwee" ; he will rise with light uncertain hovering 

 flight to utter this twitter on the wing, returning almost imme- 

 diately to his perch. Although a common bird, many people 

 fail to realise how smart the Greenfinch is in his summer dress ; 

 they are astonished by the brilliant yellow flash of the wing- 

 edges and tail when the bird flies. Distinctly sociable at all 

 times, the Greenfinch will nest in small colonies in a hedge or 



