CHAFFINCH. 303 



appear at the seasons of migration to separate into 

 flocks, composed almost entirely of only one sex. 

 Thus we know, that the males of many of our 

 summer birds of passage arrive before the females, 

 and it has been thought by some of our ornitholo- 

 gists, that we receive an addition to the numbers 

 of the Chaffinch in the end of autumn. About 

 this period they begin to assemble in flocks, and it 

 has been also thought that these flocks were, in 

 many instances, composed of females alone. 

 This is perhaps occasionally the case to a con- 

 siderable extent, but from many young males 

 having not received their full plumage, it has 

 been overrated. In the south of Scotland, at 

 least, the flocks are not of this exclusive sexual 

 character, though in many we have noticed since 

 we were aware of the opinions of others, two-thirds, 

 at least, were females, while not a half of the re- 

 maining third were males in full, or nearly perfect 

 plumage. When kept in confinement, and regu- 

 larly attended, the Chaffinch soon becomes familiar 

 and even playful, but as the song has never been 

 esteemed, it is not often subjected to captivity. 

 In its nidification the Chaffinch ranks high as an 

 architect: the nest is not often placed far from 

 the ground, and when built in the cleft of some 

 middle-sized tree or bush, often requires a sharp 

 and penetrating eye for its detection. It is formed 

 with extreme care, and is often of very beautiful 

 structure, being built into the cleft or small 

 branches, and the outside so carefully patched 

 over with the same lichens that clothe the tree, 



