534 FRINGILLIDJl. 



resorting, upon the approach of a storm, to farm-yards, and 

 other places of refuge and supply. It has been noticed by 

 several authors, that the arrival of the males, in a number 

 of our summer visitants, precedes that of the females by 

 many days ; a fact from which we might infer that in 

 such species a similar separation exists between the sexes 

 before their migration." White, in his History of Sel- 

 borne, remarks that for many years he had observed that 

 towards Christmas vast flocks of Chaffinches appeared in 

 the fields, many more, he used to think, than could be 

 hatched in any one neighbourhood, and on observing them 

 more narrowly he was amazed to find that they appeared 

 to be almost all hens. We certainly receive a considerable 

 accession to our numbers at the great autumnal migration, 

 most probably from Sweden and Norway ; I have, how- 

 ever, reason to believe that some of the large flocks of sup- 

 posed females only, are in reality old females accompanied 

 by their young birds of that year, which in plumage re- 

 semble females, the young males not having at that time 

 acquired the brilliancy of colours which renders them so 

 conspicuous afterwards when adult. 



Their flight, like that of most of the Finches, is undu- 

 latory, and their food insects, with some young and tender 

 vegetables in spring and summer, at other seasons grain and 

 seeds. Gardeners are most of them enemies to Chaffinches, 

 on account of their partiality to early -sown radishes when 

 first appearing above ground, and some few other mis- 

 chievous propensities. The common name of Pink by 

 which this bird is known provincially, has reference to the 

 sound of its call-note, and has its echo in several northern 

 languages. 



The Finches generally are remarkable for the neatness 

 and beauty of the nests they construct, and the Chaffinch 

 is no exception to the rule. The outside of their nest is 



