164 THE CHAFFINCH. 



and the Fame Islands, and probably our Berwickshire birds 

 may receive additions in autumn from migratory flocks. 



The male in his nuptial dress is a handsome and beautiful 

 bird, and the colour of the cheek of beauty has been com- 

 pared to that of his breast — 



Her cheek is like the Shilfa's breast, 

 Her neck is like the Swan's. 



Mary Stewart, Hist. Drama, p. 113. 



The joyous song of the Chafl&nch is heard when the earliest 

 primroses appear in our gardens, and when the apple is in 

 blossom. 



. . . Full and clear the sprightly ditty rings. 

 Cheering the brooding dam : she sits concealed 

 Within the nest deep-hollowed, well disguised 

 With lichens grey and mosses gradual blent, 

 As if it were a knurle in the bough. 



Grahame. 



The eggs are from four to six in number, and are generally 

 of a light bluish green, clouded with pale reddish brown, 

 and spotted with dark reddish brown. 



Several examples with white or abnormal plumage 

 have occurred in Berwickshire of late years. Mr. Eobert 

 Eenton mentions that a light cream-coloured bird was shot 

 at Fans on the 1st of January 1883, and that in 1881 two 

 of a somewhat similar colour were observed there.^ A white 

 Chaffinch was seen near Swinton in 1883, and Dr. Stuart 

 records that a few years before that time one of the same 

 colour was noticed in a strip of wood near AUanton Free 

 Church.^ Mr. Peter Cowe, Lochton, lately showed me a 

 specimen killed there in 1871, with head and under-parts 



1 Hist. Ber. Nat. Chib, vol. x. p. 572. 2 jf,ui vol. x. p. 573. 



