12 GREENFINCH. 



The eggs, from four to six, or even seven in 

 number, are of a bluish or purple reddish white, spotted 

 with darker purple, grey, and blackish brown, streaked 

 also in general more or less with black. They differ 

 much in size, shape, and colour; sometimes the whole 

 surface is mottled over, and again, there have been 

 known no markings at all: the smaller end is rather 

 pointed. 



Two broods are frequently reared in the season. 

 The young, when fledged, fly off in a body from the 

 nest, if approached. The young of the Spotted Fly- 

 catcher I have seen do the same, though they had never 

 flown before, on my going to the nest to place a young 

 orphan Greenfinch in it, with a view to its being fed 

 with them as a foster-brother. 



These eggs do not vary very materially in colour. 



One is a pale grey, spotted with many small light 

 brown spots at the thicker end. 



A second is a pale grey, spotted with a few light 

 brown spots all over, chiefly at the larger end. 



A third is similarly grounded with pale grey, with 

 a few light brown spots all over, but not so extensively. 



The figure of the nest is from a remarkably 

 beautiful specimen taken from an elm tree. 



