A GREAT PLUNDERER OF FLOWERS. 165 



they are Jittle known by the name of chaf- 

 finches ; but, from the constant repetition of one 

 note, when alarmed or in danger, they have ac- 

 quired the name of " twinks," and " pinks;" yet 

 during incubation the song of the male bird, though 

 without any variation of tune, is very pleasing in 

 the general concert, as most vernal notes, if not 

 harsh and wearisome from monotony, are. These 

 birds make sad havock with some of our spring 

 flowers; and the polyanthus, in March, in our 

 sheltered borders, is very commonly stripped of all 

 its blossoms by these little plunderers, I suppose to 

 obtain the immature seeds at the base of their 

 tubes. They will deflorate too the spikes or whorls 

 of the little red archangel (lamium purpureum) ; 

 and we see them feeding in the waste places where 

 this plant is found in the spring, their little mouths 

 being filled with the green seeds of this dead nettle. 

 At this period too they are sad plunderers in our 

 kitchen gardens, and most dexterously draw up our 

 young turnips and radishes, as soon as they appear 

 upon the surface of the soil ; but after this all 

 depredation ceases, the rest of their days being 

 past in sportive innocence. I have observed 

 these birds, in very hot seasons, to wet their eggs, 

 by discharging moisture from their bills upon them, 

 or at least perform an operation that appeared to 

 be so. 



We still continue here that very ancient custom 



