i 4 8 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE. 



remarks of the author of the Journal of a Naturalist 

 on the same subject. 



" Why did Linnaeus apply the specific name 

 coelebs, or bachelor, to this bird ?" is a question which 

 will probably occur to many who may be familiar 

 with its appearance and song, but who may not 

 have paid much attention to its habits. The reason 

 for this name lies in the observed fact that in Sweden 

 the hens left the country in winter, while the cocks 

 remained behind bachelors for the time being. 

 This separation of the sexes in winter has been 

 remarked by many observers in England, amongst 

 others by Gilbert White of Selborne ; but it would 

 appear that the rule does not admit of general 

 application, several good ornithologists having re- 

 ported their inability to detect any marked separa- 

 tion of the sexes, although they observed that 

 towards the end of autumn or beginning of winter 

 Chaffinches move in flocks, and appear more 

 numerous at that time than during any other period 

 of the year. There can be little doubt that at the 

 season referred to a great number of these birds 

 come across the North Sea, and, arriving upon the 

 east coast of England, gradually spread over the 



