THE CHAFFINCH. 163 



a body to some elevated position, again proceeding to their 

 feeding ground, a few at a time as before, after the alarm is 

 past. The Chaffinch continues to haunt the stubble fields 

 during open weather in winter, but when snow occurs it 

 frequents farm-steadings and stackyards with Sparrows and 

 Linnets, which help themselves to the food thrown down to 

 poultry, or pick up grain round the sides of the stacks and 

 about barn-doors and cattle-courts. When a Sparrow Hawk 

 approaches the steading at this season, this bird's loud 

 alarm-note — " pink, pink, pink " — is generally the first 

 indication of liis presence ; and the same note is amongst 

 the loudest when small birds are engaged in persecuting an 

 Owl with their cries, on discovering him in his retreat in 

 the woods during the day-time. If very severe weather sets 

 in, with much frost and snow, the Chaffinch appears to 

 leave the more exposed parts of the county for sheltered 

 localities near the sea -coast. In summer it subsists almost 

 entirely on insects, many of which are injurious to the farm 

 and garden. It roosts at night in evergreens and young fir 

 woods during autumn and winter. 



Mr. Hardy says that in Berwickshire when the " weet, 

 weet, weet " of this bird is much heard, it is considered 

 to be an indication of snow or rain. The Chaffinch has 

 been frequently observed on migration ^ at the Isle of May 



1 Autumn 1879.— Fames, 28th Sep. and 1st Oct. AufAimn 1880.— Isle of 

 May, 19tli Oct. ; Fames, 1st Sep. Sprm;/ 1881. —Isle of May. Spring 1882.— 

 Isle of May, 17tli and ISth Marcli. Spring 1883.— Isle of May, 2nd March and 

 in April. Autumn 1883.— Fames, 29th and 30th Nov. SjJring 1884.— Isle of 

 May, 12th Feb. and 3rd to 10th May. Autumn 1884. — Fames ; great numbers 

 16th Oct. and 2nd Nov. Mr. Cordeaux, the Reporter for the East Coast of 

 England, remarks with reference to the migration of the Chaffinch at this time : — 

 "The migration is e.xtensive, and covers the whole of the east coast. Through 

 September and October immense numbers are recorded as crossing — the first 

 flocks consisting of young of both sexes and old females ; old cocks later." Isle 

 of May, 25th to 27th Sep. Spiring 1885. — Isle of May, single records in Feb., 

 March, April, and May. AiUumn 1885. — Isle of May, 14th Oct. and 14th Nov. — 

 Reports on the Migration of Birds, 1879-85. 



