The last named has the longest tail of all, and is further marked 
by his beautiful grey back and bright sulphur abdomen and 
under tail coverts. All have white feathers in the tail. The 
pipits and skylark, like the wagtails, have very long inner 
secondaries, but they can never be confused on this account. 
They can never be mistaken for wagtails, but on the other hand, 
the several species can be distinguished, when on the wing, only 
by long practice. 
The chaffinch, greenfinch, and goldfinch are with us all the 
year round, keeping each to his favourite haunts. Most people 
know them well. But one meets even people living in the heart 
of the country, who cannot call them by name! The cock 
“* shoulders,” 
chaffinch can be distinguished at once by its white 
and white bars across the wing, apart from the bright hues of the 
body, so well shown in the adjoining Plate. The hen has similar 
wing-marks, but lacks the bright colours of her lord. His cousin, 
the brambling—who comes to us in the winter—is just as easily 
identified by his orange-coloured shoulder patch—in place of 
white—and white rump, which is most conspicuous during flight. 
The greenfinch is marked, when in flight, by the yellow rump 
and bright yellow patches at the base of the tail feathers. Who 
could mistake the goldfinch for any one else but himself? He 
looks like a butterfly as he flutters about on the tops of tall 
thistles. The crimson and black bands on his head, the glorious 
