Birds of Britain 



may be seen during the winter in small parties of from 

 eight to ten flying from place to place, with cheery twitter- 

 ing, and if the weather be severe, especially when snow is 

 on the ground, he collects in enormous flocks of several 

 hundreds. Their food consists of seeds and berries, though 

 insects are largely eaten during the summer months. The 

 nest is placed in a furze bush or hedge at no great distance 

 from the ground, and is a neat and compact structure of 

 grass and bents bound together with a little moss and wool, 

 and lined with hair, wool, and feathers. The six eggs are of a 

 delicate pale blue blotched with moderately large reddish- 

 brown spots. Two broods, at least, are reared in the season, 

 and when the cares of housekeeping are completed they 

 wander about at random until the following spring brings a 

 return of more serious occupation. The song, although very 

 pleasing, cannot be called great, and is a kind of continuous 

 chuckling which is often delivered whilst on the wing. The 

 flight is as a rule strong, rapid, and undulating, the 

 flocks often travelling considerable distances to reach a 

 favourite feeding-ground or when returning to roost in a 

 well-sheltered plantation. During the courting season the 

 male indulges also in a very pretty love flight ; he rises some 

 distance in the air and then slowly descends with rapid 

 flutterings of his wings and out-spread tail, singing at the 

 same time with all his might. 



In autumn large numbers reach us from the Continent, 

 and there is also a certain amount of emigration among our 

 home-bred birds. 



The upper parts in the male are brownish, greyer on the 

 nape and more rufous on the mantle. Wing and tail 



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