OF THE BIRDS MENTIONED 195 
wing marks less distinct. Found: Universally dis- 
tributed. Frequents wooded districts, but fond of 
gardens and orchards. Habits: Busy and gay, wary. 
The males separate from the females in autumn, and 
congregate in flocks. Some males migrate, but many 
remain. Return in spring. Also many visitors from 
the Continent in winter. The parents keep with the 
young till they can take care of themselves. Cocks 
very jealous of each other’s song, sing in rivalry, or 
furiously attack each other when singing. Crown 
feathers (crest) raised if alarmed or excited. Flight : 
Vigorous, quick, graceful. Length: 6 inches (about). 
Note: ‘Pink, pink,’ or ‘spink, spink,’ and also other 
lively, quickly-repeated notes, something like ‘ chipp, 
chipp, chipp, chipp, chirr—rr.’ Most heard in spring. 
Food : Chiefly insects.in summer, often taken in the 
air, like the fly-catcher (which see), and grain and seeds 
in winter. Nest: in April. Sztuated : In a shrub or tree 
(apple, pear and cherry trees favourites), 6 feet from 
ground or much higher. Cup-shaped, open, substan- 
tial, firmly bound round twigs, neat and regularly 
ciycular. Very pretty. Made of: Grass, lichen, and 
very often of green moss. Materials chosen to resemble 
surroundings, to conceal it. Often bound with cob- 
webs firmly twined round the twigs. Resembles gold- 
finch’s. Lined with horsehair, feathers and _ wool. 
Second nests: Two or three yearly. Eggs: Pale 
