THE GREENFINCH. 153 



pronounced in the Hawfinch) ; the short tail, as 

 compared with that of other Finches ; and the short 

 and robust legs and feet. A nearer inspection 

 reveals the fact that the edges of the mandibles, 

 instead of being plain, are inflected and slightly 

 indented, the gape also being arched instead of 

 straight. These little peculiarities of structure are 

 not unaccompanied by eccentricities of habit, which 

 it is one of the chief pastimes of the ornithologist 

 to note. 



To see the Greenfinch one has no need to go 

 far from. town. It is one of the commonest hedge- 

 row birds we have, frequenting gardens, orchards, 

 farm-yards, and cultivated fields, and generally in 

 company with Sparrows and other small birds, 

 except during the nesting season, when it keeps 

 very much to itself, the cock bird singing from some 

 low spray while the hen is busy with her nest. An 

 orchard is a very favourite resort in summer, doubt- 

 less because the fruit trees furnish some specially 

 attractive food in the shape of caterpillars and 

 aphides, upon which it feeds its young. For, like 

 many other hard-billed birds which live on seeds 

 and grain during nine months of the year, the 



