NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



rather large and slovenly structure formed 

 of slender, dead twigs, rootlets, grass, 

 and moss lined with hair, down, and 

 feathers. 



The eggs, numbering from four to six, 

 are white, pale grey, or white tinged 

 with blue, spotted principally round the 

 larger end with reddish-brown and pur- 

 plish-grey. 



The male Greenfinch, although not a 

 great feathered vocalist, has some very 

 pleasant notes, which he trills by the 

 half-hour together. In the early part 

 of the breeding season he sings on the 

 wing, but later on he grows less ener- 

 getic, and is content to deliver his oft- 

 repeated lay from some favourite tree- 

 top. Individuals differ in the quality of 

 their notes. 



In confinement the Greenfinch soon 

 becomes very tame and docile, and is 

 appreciated on this account, and also for 

 its ability to imitate the notes of other 

 species. 



The call-note is a prolonged twe-e-er^ 

 and when the nest is visited the members 

 of this species utter a very melancholy 

 one sounding like tway. 



In winter Greenfinches congregate in 

 small flocks, and hunt for seeds in stubble 



IOO 



