BIRDS OF THE WOODS 53 



Haunts. — Vagrant while with us, but partial to beech- 

 grown districts. 



Plumage. — Head, cheeks, nape, and upper part of 

 back black (tipped with light brown in winter) . Scapulars 

 tawny brown. Wings black, variegated with orange- 

 brown and white. Rump white mottled with black, 

 noticeable in flight. Tail black ; white bases to outer 

 pair of feathers. Throat and breast reddish tawny, 

 fading into white on the belly. Flanks spotted with 

 black. Bill bluish black. Legs brown. Length 6 in. 

 Female, no black areas and all colouring duller. Young, 

 like female. 



Language. — Song, much like Chaffinch's without the 

 terminal notes, and also long-drawn, monotonous 

 " zshweo," much like the Greenfinch's. Call-note, a 

 harsh " chib " or " whit." 



Habits. — Much like the resident Chaffinch. 



Food. — Insects in summer. In winter, beech-mast 

 and various seeds. 



Nest. — May or June. One brood. 



Site. — In fork of some birch or fir tree. Sometimes in 

 bushes. 



Materials. — Birch bark-strips, lichens, and moss, lined 

 with fine grass and feathers. Not unlike the Chaffinch's. 



Eggs. — Five to seven. Much like Chaffinch's, but 

 greener and less marked. 



