BRAMBLIXG 



559 



The eggs are simply spotted, and lack the scribbled lines characteristic 

 of those of the buntings. 



The white upper wing-coverts alone suffice to distinguish the 

 chaffinch from all its kindred. In the cock the forehead is black, 

 the nape and sides of the neck are leaden blue, the fore part of the 

 back chestnut, the loins olive-green, and the sides of the head and the 

 under-parts pinkish brown ; the greater wing-coverts being tipped with 

 white slightly edged with buff. In hens and \-oung birds the crown of 

 the head and back 

 are greenish brown, 

 and the breast pale 

 }'ellowish grey ; the 

 loins and wings 

 being coloured prac- 

 tically the same as 

 in cocks. 



In the case of 

 such a familiar bird 

 little need be said 

 as regards distribu- 

 tion, and practically 

 nothing concerning bunted 

 habits. The geo- 

 graphical range in- 

 cludes all Europe up to the ^Arctic Circle, and extends into western 

 Siberia about as far as Tobolsk. Except the Shetlands and the 

 Outer Hebrides, to which it is only a visitor, the species breeds 

 throughout the British Islands. The most noticeable feature as regards 

 the breeding-habits of the chaffinch is the beauty and neatness of its 

 nest, which by the addition of lichens or spiders' webs to the exterior 

 is so admirably harmonised to its surroundings that, if the birds them- 

 selves would but remain silent, it would seldom attract the notice of 

 the casual passer-by. The rounded eggs very generally, although 

 by no means invariably, possess a peculiar "blotting-paper" tinge, 

 specially noticeable round the dark spots. 



ME ROALANO WARD STUOlOS 



CHAFFINCH. 



Bpamblina" ^Vith the exception of an apparently well authenti- 



(Frinffilla cated instance of its having bred in Scotland in the 



montifpinffilla ) y^^^' ^^^^> ^^^ brambling is only a winter -visitor 



to the British Isles, where it sometimes makes its 



appearance in vast flocks, and frequently prolongs its stay till the 



