74 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



the season : in the sprinjj the niale^ llies with a mciHou 

 somewhat similar to that of the Swallow, and uttei-s its 

 song in the fulness of its heart whilst upon the wiii^- ; 

 but when the exuberance of summer has subsided its flight 

 (jeeomes modified, and though still quick and strong, is quite 

 straight, with a very rapid movement of the wings. "When 

 collected in flocks, the birds fly closely together, and make 

 a splendid chance shot for the embryo sportsman. They are 

 also easily caught in a net or traj), the gullibility of a 

 Greenfinch being remarkable; perhaps their habit of 

 congregating together makes the attraction of a brace, 

 or call-bird, doubly enticing. 



The hen is somewhat similar in appearance to the male 

 bird, but is shorn of the glory of the brilliant yellow that 

 forms his chief attraction, a dull, greenish, leaden grey 

 being the prevailing colour of her plumage. 



Greenfiuclies generally build_ their nest in high and thiek 

 hedges, but are very easily pleased with a building sjte, 

 often choosing bushes, especially elder or e\'ergre_ens, and 

 sometimes the small lowe£ branches of a tree. The 

 nest is somewhat loose as regai'ds the exterior, which is 

 composed of twigs and a lo t of moss ; but they study the 

 comfc)rt of the interior more narrowly, lining it softly with 

 wool, feathers, and horsehair. The eggs are generally five 

 or six in number, though as many as seven have been 

 known. ' In about fourteen days the youjig are hatched, 

 and are fed by the pareiit birds untiX_old enough to 

 leave the nest. Their appearance at this time is very 

 (lilfcMvnt, l)eing greenish-grey upon the upper parts, and 

 with this colour as a groundwork, streaked with dark brown 

 upon the back, breast, and throat. Their mouths are of a 

 dark crimson inside when in the nest, and are always open 



