THE GREENFINCH AND GOLDFINCH. 197 



nests are but slightly and poorly built. This interesting 

 subject might be pursued much further, for it is indeed 

 a subject as yet but little inquired into. But we will 

 return to the Greenfinch, now busy with nesting duties. 



The eggs are from four to six in number, of a pure 

 white ground colour, spotted and blotched with purplish- 

 red. The Greenfinch is another bird who sometimes 

 sits upon her first ^%^ as soon as laid. When you 

 approach the nest the old birds become very noisy and 

 anxious. Flitting from spray to spray, they utter their 

 monotonous, though not unpleasing call notes, and should 

 the nest contain young, the female bird will approach you 

 closely, and by every action and cry betray the keenest 

 anguish. The young of the Greenfinch are not so richly 

 dressed as the male, and they are spotted and streaked, 

 yet have the golden yellow in the wings. They remain 

 ill company with their parents for a short time after 

 quitting the nest, when, if the season be not too far 

 advanced, the old birds leave them and rear a second, 

 and, in some cases, a third brood. 



Early in July the Greenfinches, young and old, con- 

 gregate into little parties, and in company with Sparrows 

 frequent the grass fields. Here we see them fluttering 

 over the mowing grass, catching the insects, but the chief 

 cause of these visits is for the purpose of feeding on the 

 seeds of the grasses. As the year rolls on the parties of 

 Greenfinches become larger, as the birds engaged in 

 rearing the late broods join them, and then the corn 

 fields are visited. In the winter the Greenfinch is found 

 in company with the Buntings, feeding upon the newly 

 sown corn lands ; sometimes, too, we see them eating 

 the holly berries and picking the seeds out of the fir 

 cones in company with the Titmouse. When the short 

 winter's day is passing into night, as we wander beneath 



