147 



by thin strands of sheep's wool. In some villages in 

 this district it is affirmed that the lichen is affixed to the 

 nest by a glutinous saliv^a made by the Chaffinch for 

 that purpose. But I have always found the lichen and 

 pieces of paper to be woven on by strands of wool. 



The nest (which is the subject of these two photos) 

 was built in the butt of a dwarf plum tree. The hen 

 Chaffinch sat very close, and allowed me to approach 

 within three feet of the nest, and sat quietly whilst 

 two plates were exposed. 



The nest (photographed three days later) con- 

 tained six eggs, which is more than the usual number, 

 the average clutch consisting of four or five. The 

 characteristic blotches and markings of the eggs are 

 well shown in the photo. 



* * * 



CHAFFINCH NESTING IN CAPTIVITY. 



[It may be interesting here to recall an event which 

 occurred some j-ears ago in my aviary, when Britishers shared 

 the space with their foreign rivals. The birds in question had 

 been in my possession some three years and were both caught 

 in the garden. 



During the pairing of the birds, the swooping flights and 

 violent courtship, common to the species, were indulged in, in 

 fact by the time they settled down to nesting both bore signs 

 of the conflict (I cannot find a better word) the}- had been 

 through. I may saj', though they had space, copulation only 

 took place on the ground and in the branches, this was always 

 followed by a sort of prolonged guttural rattle on the part of 

 the male. As fallacies die hard, I repeat here, no attempt was 

 made at copulation in the air, though there was ample space for 

 this in their enclosure. In the fields I have seen them locked 

 together during the violent pairing flights ; there are but few 

 who still cling to this fallacy that copulation takes place in the 

 air ; personally I fail to see how a careful observer could have 



