CHAFFINCH. 101 
Algerian bird, but differs from it in having the throat and upper breast 
buff, instead of pinkish buff. In the Azores, six or seven hundred miles 
to the north-west, not only the throat and upper breast, but the whole of 
the underparts are buff. Thisspecies has been named F’. moreleti. In the 
Canary Islands, which lie some three hundred miles south of Madeira, and 
are Obviously an extension of the Atlas Mountains, the Chaffinch, which is 
known by the name F, tintillon, has scarcely any trace of green on the 
slate-grey of the upper back, but has the buff underparts of the Azores 
bird. These forms are probably only subspecifically distinct. It seems 
probable that these islands occasionally receive emigrants from the other 
islands and the mainland, which probably remain and interbreed with 
their congeners, as examples from Teneriffe are occasionally suffused with 
yellowish green on the upper back, and the amount of yellowish green 
on the upper back of birds from the Azores varies and, in very rare 
instances, is absent altogether. In the alpine regions of Teneriffe a 
much more distinct species occurs, F. teydea, in which the whole of the 
plumage of both upper and underparts is slate-grey, paler on the tips of 
the wing-coverts, and shading into white on the under tail-coverts. 
Few of our British birds are more gaily attired than the pert and lively 
Chaffinch, and few are better known; for there is scarcely a hedge- 
row, wood, garden, or shrubbery that does not, at some season of the 
year, contain Chaffinches in abundance. The bird may be easily recog- 
nized by its oft-repeated and cheerily uttered note of pink, pink, pink, 
whence it has derived its commonest local name “ Spink.” The haunts of 
this gay little bird are shrubberies, woods, and hedgerows, together with 
orchards, well-wooded parks, and gardens. In autumn and winter it also 
frequents the open fields and stubbles, the commons, and the waste lands 
near the sea. 
The Chaffinch is a lively bird, and rarely fails to attract the attention of 
even the most casual observer, as it either sits on some exposed twig and 
rattles off its merry laughing song, or mayhap as it flits along the hedge- 
rows, or asit hops and runs up and down the country-road picking amongst 
the droppings. Early in March, when the pale primroses are peeping from 
under the withered leaves, and the hawthorn shows the first signs of verdure, 
the song of the Chaffinch assists in welcoming the advent of spring. At 
this season it is the life of the woods and groves, almost the only music 
the boughs afford. The song of the Chaffinch is short and even monoto- 
nous compared with that of many other birds; still there is a freshness 
and sprightliness about it which well makes up for its lack of melody. The 
bird also seems so earnest in his performance that his entire vigour seems 
thrown into his melody, and its loud ringing tones fill the air and the 
woodlands around with gladness. His song may be heard incessantly 
from March to June, and occasionally to the middle of July, when it ceases 
