THE MOUNTAIN FINCH. 17.3 



to be destroyer! on every opportunity, forgetting that although it fre- 

 quently does considerable damage to the crops, it also destroys a large 

 number of insects, and performs much useful work in consuming the 

 seeds of groundsel, crowfoot, and other weeds. 



The Chaffinch is one of the handsomest of our British species, his 

 plumage is bright and beautifully marked. In length he is about six 

 inches, and in breadth across the wings eleven and a half inches. On 

 the forehead he is black; the upper part of the head and neck are 

 ash grey; the chin, throat, and breast purplish red. The wings are 

 chiefly black, striped in two places with white. The tail is brownish 

 black, with some of the feathers white. The irides are hazel; the legs, 

 toes, and claws wood brown. The female is a little smaller, and of a 

 greyer colour than the male 



THE MOUNTAIN FINCH, 



{Fringilla montifringilla^} 

 PLATE XI. FIGURE II. 



THIS bird, also called the Brambling, Bramble Finch, and Lulean 

 Finch, derives its scientific title from won.*?, a mountain, and fringilla, 

 a Chaffinch. Closely resembling the species last described, in general 

 form and the markings of its plumage, it is almost impossible to 

 distinguish it therefrom at only a slight distance. One of the chief 

 differences revealed by a close inspection is a tooth-like projection on 

 the edge of the lower mandible near the base. The male is about 

 six and a half inches in length, and has the bill dusky, and bluish 

 black at the point; the head, neck, and back deep black, except 

 during the winter, when the feathers are tipped with grey; the chin, 

 throat, and breast on the upper part, light reddish brown, the latter 

 white or yellowish white on its lower part, and spotted on the sides 

 with black and brown; the wings for the most part black, with two 

 noarly white bands running across them, and many of the feathers 

 edged with light reddish brown; the tail black, edged with grey; the 

 irides brown; the legs, toes, and claws light brown. The female is a 

 little smaller than the male, and of a browner colour; her sides are 

 marked with long pale black streaks. 



The little Mountain Finch resembles its congener as much in 

 manners as in appearance, moving on the ground by short leaps in a 



