198 FKINGILLID^. 



partially, and that of his young family exclusively, consists 

 of caterpillars and other noxious insects, he is in reality 

 among the gardener's best friends, who should be scared 

 away at the seasons when his visits are not welcome, and 

 encouraged at all other times. The Chaffinch, thougli a 

 wary bird, does not stand greatly in fear of man ; for if 

 disturbed at a meal, he is generally satisfied with the 

 protection afforded by the branches of the nearest tree, on 

 which he hops about until the danger is past, uttering 

 his simple but not unpleasing note, " twink" or ^'pink'' as 

 it is variously translated. To this cry it adds the syllable 

 " tweet" frequently repeated in an anxious tone and with a 

 peculiar restlessness of manner, which always indicate that 

 its nest is somewhere very near at hand, and by which 

 indeed it is very often betrayed. 



Its proper song commences very early in spring, and is 

 continued until June or later. This must be the song 

 which the poet had in view when he sang : — 



" Then as a little helpless iunocent bird, 

 That has but one plain passage of few notes, 

 Will sing the simple passage o'er and o'er, 

 For all one April morning, till the ear 

 Wearies to hear it." — Tennyson. 



It consists of from ten to twelve notes of the same tone, 

 and about the same length, with the last but one elevated 

 and accented, uttered rapidly at short intervals, and with- 

 out the least variation. 



In Germany, this bird is so great a favourite that not a 

 single tone of its voice has escaped the experienced ears of 

 bird-fanciers. In some parts of Holland and the north of 

 France, the passion for song Chaffinches amounts to a 

 frenzy. Philharmonic societies are formed, whose exclusive 

 object is to educate Chaffinches, and to organize vocal 

 combats. The combatants, each in his cage, are placed a 

 few yards from each other. One of them utters his strain, 

 which is replied to by the other ; strict silence is imposed 



