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THE CHAFFINCH. 147 



turning over the horse-droppings in the roadways 

 on the chance of picking up any undigested oats 

 that it may discover. When the snow is on the 

 ground, and food of all kinds becomes difficult to 

 procure, it approaches close to the house, and is 

 glad to pick up any crumbs and scraps that may be 

 thrown to it. As spring approaches, and the trees 

 come into leaf, a change takes place in the diet of 

 the Chaffinch, and from this time until the end of 

 summer it destroys a great number of insects, chiefly 

 spiders, aphides, and caterpillars. In particular it 

 feeds its young a good deal on the green caterpillars 

 which destroy the leaves of the gooseberry. In 

 this, amongst other respects, it may be said to be 

 a great benefactor ; for in no way are caterpillars 

 so effectually got rid of as by encouraging certain 

 small birds, their natural enemies. Whether the 

 rvice thus rendered is sufficient compensation for 

 the amount of grain and seed picked up at other 

 times of the year admits of some doubt. Sir 

 William Jardine, in his Naturalists Library, has 

 examined the question with much fairness, and to 

 his account (British Birds, vol. ii. p. 302) the 

 reader may be referred, as well as to the accurate 



