200 



FINCHES. 



more. The entrance is round, but so small that the bird must necessarily 

 squeeze itself into it : the interior is not larger than a man's fist. Such are 

 the nests prepared for the winter. Those intended for the summer are much 

 less in size, more open, and of a much lighter construction. This bird, there- 

 fore, builds its nest differently according to the season of the year and the 

 temperature. The female lays from three to four eggs of a somewhat small 

 size, and of a dirty white colour, thickly marked with brown spots. When 



Fig. io6 — The Common Ckossbill {Loxia mrvircstra). 



the young leave the nest, they follow the mother, who feeds them ; but at this 

 period the male deserts the family : he is never seen in company with a female 

 that has newly-fledged young. These accompany their mother; they keep 

 up a terrible noise, screech most unmercifully, and flutter their wings. When 

 feeding the young, the female allows the cone to fall to the ground. The 

 young follow her to the cone, out of which she plucks the seeds, while they, 

 gaping and screeching, surround her on all sides."— LLOYD'S ''Scandinavian 

 Adve>itiires." 



