THE GREENFINCH. 15$ 



compact ; indeed we have seen cases in which it 

 might almost be termed a slovenly structure. It 

 is flatter than that of the Chaffinch, and generally 

 contains a good deal of wool and a little moss 

 worked into a foundation of fibrous roots, the centre 

 being lined with horse-hair. The eggs, usually five 

 in number, have much less colour about them than 

 those of the Chaffinch, being almost white or bluish 

 white, with faint spots and speckles of a purplish 

 red colour, with here and there a dash of gray, 

 chiefly distributed at the larger end. In selecting 

 a site for its nest, the Greenfinch is very partial 

 to evergreens, and this fact causes it to be much 

 commoner about gardens and shrubberies than 

 many other Finches. 



Like the Sparrow, it is fond of roosting in ivy, 

 as proved by its being captured at night in the bat- 

 fowling nets of the birdcatcher. It will thus be 

 seen that it is a very confiding and familiar bird, 

 not only approaching our dwellings by day, and 

 uttering its peculiar and monotonous call incessantly 

 during the summer months close to the house, but 

 even resorting to the buildings (that is, such as are 

 clothed with ivy or other creepers), under shelter of 



