NESTS AND EGGS 



OF 



BRITISH BIRDS 



CHAFFINCH 



SHILFA SCOBBY SHELLY SKELLY SHELL- APPLE BEECH- 

 FINCH TWINK SPINK PINK TWEET. 



PLATE LXXX. 

 Fringilla Calebs LINNJEUS. 



THE nest of the Chaffinch is truly a beautiful piece of 

 workmanship, compact and neat in the highest degree. 

 It is usually so well adapted to the colour of the place 

 where it is built, as to elude detection from any chance 

 passer-by close scrutiny is required to discover it. It 

 is therefore variously made, according to the nature of the 

 materials at hand. Some are built of grasses, stalks of plants, 

 and small roots, compacted with the scales of bark and 

 wool, and lined with hair, with perhaps a few feathers, the 

 outside being entirely covered with tree moss and lichens, 

 taken from the tree itself in which it is placed ; the assi- 

 milation being thus rendered complete. Others are without 

 any wool, its place being supplied with thistle-down, and 



VOL. II. A 



