142 OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
be found in a bush or a thick hedge, but the former 
situation is by far the more common one. 
The materials vary in accordance with the site 
selected, the bird always endeavouring, like the 
chaffinch, to assimilate the exterior of her abode as 
far as possible to surrounding objects. The nest of 
the goldfinch, indeed, is generally a most difficult one 
to find, for not only do its tints harmonise almost 
exactly with those of the branch upon which it is built, 
but the surrounding foliage generally conceals it 
from sight; while the bird, instead of starting out 
from the nest itself, is cautious enough to make its 
way for some little distance along the bough before 
taking to wing. The four or five eggs are of a pale 
bluish-white colour, variegated with sundry dots and 
streaks of purplish brown. 
EVERYBODY is more or less familiar with the Green- 
finch, which is one of our commonest birds, and may 
be seen in almost any number in the course of a 
country ramble. 
Although less valuable than its relative the gold- 
finch, this bird must certainly be considered as the 
ally of the farmer, sadly though it may rob him at 
times of a part of his produce. During the breeding 
season more especially it destroys great numbers of 
insects to serve as diet for its young, while at other 
periods of the year it turns its attention to seeds, and 
so takes a prominent share in the important task of 
reducing the abundance of weeds. Prévost-Paradol’s 
