THE GREENFINCH. 175 



portion of Asia. The upper parts of the body and breast of the male 

 are olive green; the wings ash grey, with bright yellow edgings to 

 the quills; the tail brownish black, except the four outer feathers on 

 each side, which are yellow for three fourths of their length. The 

 whole under surface of the body is greenish yellow. The bill, legs, 

 and feet are pale reddish brown, and the irides dark hazel. The 

 female is without the bright yellow on the wings and tail, and 

 altogether of a greyer tint. 



This is a sprightly and active little bird, notwithstanding the rather 

 heavy and clumsy appearance it presents in consequence of the great 

 size of its head and bill. It flies with ease and rapidity, flapping its 

 wings quickly two or three times, and then closing them until a fresh 

 impetus is required; it usually hovers for a few moments before 

 alighting. "On being alarmed," says Macgillivray, "these birds rise 

 abruptly, fly off, and betake themselves to the twigs of the highest 

 trees in the neighbourhood, on which they settle abruptly, and remain 

 in a crouching attitude until the alarm is over, when they drop into the 

 field or yard/' Frequently when perched, and sometimes when flying, 

 the Greenfinch utters its call-note, which is likened by Meyer to the 

 word 'tway;' it is rather sweet and full, and though soft can be 

 heard at a considerable distance. The alarm-note is similar, but is 

 accompanied by a distinct low whistle. This bird can scarcely be said 

 to possess a song, although its notes are slightly varied, and by no 

 means unpleasing during the spring and autumn. 



The food of this bird consists largely of wheat, oats, and other 

 grain, but it also devours the seeds of many of the common weeds; 

 in the spring it feeds chiefly on insects and their larvae. On the 

 Continent it is said to eat large quantities of hemp, rape, and linseed. 



At the commencement of the breeding season, a good deal of 

 fighting takes place between the males, but blood is rarely spilt. The 

 positions selected for the nest are low bushes or hedges, the ivy 

 against walls, or the forked branches of trees. Very frequently a 

 number of nests are found quite close to each other in a shrubbery, 

 or sometimes several in a single large bush. The structure is put 

 together entirely by the female, and consists of straws, twigs, and fine 

 roots, covered with a layer of moss, and snugly lined with wool, hair, 

 feathers, and thistle-down. The eggs are from four to six in number, 

 of a bluish or reddish white, spotted with purplish grey and reddish 

 brown, and more or less streaked with black. Some have been found 

 without any markings at all, and others mottled all over. Two broods 

 are generally reared in a season. For the fortnight during which the 

 female sits she is supplied with food by her attentive mate. The 



