CHAPTER XV. 



or Bramble ^Fi 



I HIS bird is first cousin at least to our Chaffinch and 

 visits us only in the winter, its home being within 

 the Arctic circle, where it breeds, retiring South from 

 stress of weather, and availing itself of the first indi- 

 cations of spring to reiurn to its native haunts. It is 

 said to have bred occasionally in the north of Scotland, 

 as well as in aviaries, where it is asserted to have 

 produced a fertile progeny with the Chaffinch. Without 

 stopping to consider the probability or otherwise of that 

 report, I will merely say that those I have kept at 

 different times never evinced the least disposition to 

 nest in confinement. 



It is a pretty bird, but not as brilliant as the Chaf- 

 finch; the hen, I think, being handsomer than the cock, 

 which has a great deal of black about his head and 

 neck : both sexes have a crest that they are able to 

 raise and depress at pleasure, but they have no song 

 worth speaking of and are quiet and shy, though I 



