104 RUDDY-BREASTED BIRDS. 



' bleeding ' at the edges, of purplish- brown or raw 

 sienna ; sometimes, however, almost unmarked ; 

 •8X-57 inch (plate 125). 



Nest. — Compact, of green moss, wool, and lichens, 

 lined with hair and feathers, and placed in a hedge 

 or bush, in the fork of a branch against the main- 

 stem of a tree, or out on a horizontal branch. 



Distribution. — General. 



Nesting in hedgerow, garden, copse, and woodside, 

 the Chaffincli is widely distributed, and may be seen 

 at all times of the year. Unless engaged in song — 

 a powerful, rattling, but unchanging strain ending 

 with two notes, ' WJiit-iu ! ' — the bird is almost sure 

 to greet the approach of an observer with a loud, 

 metallic 'Fink! pink!' recalling the cry often used 

 by the Blackbird. When the Chaffinch is perching, 

 the full, red breast first strikes the eye ; during flight 

 the white portions of the wings and tail become 

 conspicuous. When hopping on the ground, usually 

 on open ways, where he largely seeks his food, the 

 Chaffinch exhibits a combination of colours which for 

 brilliancy and contrast is second to none among even 

 the brightly coloured Finches. Like the Redbreast, 

 the Chaffinch takes his stand upon some prominent 

 branch to deliver his song ; but while the song of the 

 former is never twice the same, that of the Chaffinch 

 never varies, and in the ' smashing ' energy of its 

 delivery is unapproached by that of any other ruddy- 

 breasted bird. The Redbreast sings practically all 

 the year, the Chaffinch only from March until June. 

 Chaffinches are to be met feeding together in family 

 parties in late summer, and later still in bands of 



