CHAFFINCH. 331 



much less gaudily coloured. The bill, feet, and irides, are as 

 in the male. The upper part of the head is greyish-brown, 

 its central part paler ; the cheeks yellowish grey ; the back and 

 sides of the neck pale yellowish-grey ; the fore part of the back 

 light greyish-brown ; the rump pale yellowish-green. The 

 wings and tail are as in the male, but their dark parts, instead 

 of being black, are deep brown. The throat and breast are 

 pale yellowish-grey slightly tinged with red ; the abdomen and 

 lower tail-coverts nearly white. 



Length to end of tail 6^ ; extent of wrings 10 ; bill along 

 the ridge 4^ twelfths, along the edge of lower mandible /^ ; 

 wing from flexure 3^ ; tail 2| ; tarsus j% ; middle toe and 

 claw j%. 



Variations. — In general the variations are not remarkable ; 

 the throat and breast are of a lighter or deeper red, the quills 

 more or less black, the white bands on the wings more or less 

 tinged with yellow. Albino individuals sometimes occur, al- 

 though I have never seen a British one. Considerable differ- 

 ences as to size are found, the length varying from five and a 

 half to six and a half, or somewhat more. 



Changes of Plumage. — Few birds exhibit the effects of the 

 wearing of the feathers in a more remarkable manner than the 

 male Chaffinch. By the beginning of April, in many indivi- 

 duals even so early as January, the black of the forehead has 

 become nearly pure, the greyish-blue of the head almost un- 

 mixed, the red of the back brighter, and the breast has assumed 

 a much lighter and livelier tint. At this season also the bill 

 is of a fine leaden blue. The changes which the female under- 

 goes are less remarkable. 



Habits. — This species, which is of very common occurrence 

 in all the wooded and cultivated parts of the country, is per- 

 manently resident, even in the bleakest parts of the north of 

 Scotland, although in corresponding latitudes on the continent 

 it appears that many individuals migrate southward. Towards 

 the end of autumn, the Chaffinches are commonly to be seen 



