THE CHAFFINCH. 159 



the thrush, in mild seasons, will sing occasionally 

 throughout the winter ; but the robin, after having 

 been absent all the summer, returns to us late in 

 autumn, and then commences its song, when most 

 others of our feathered choristers are silent. An 

 apparent contention in harmony ensues among 

 them ; at length the rivals approach, menace, and 

 fight with a seeming vexation at each other's 

 prowess. The song of no one bird is, perhaps, 

 more observed and remembered than the autumnal 

 and, at times, melancholy sounding farewell of the 

 robin. 



The chaffinch (frinyilla coelebs) appears to be 

 universally spread throughout the English counties, 

 and the male bird is remarkable for the cleanliness 

 and trimness of his plumage, which, without having 

 any great variety or splendour of colouring, is so 

 composed and arranged, and the white on his wings 

 so brilliant, as to render him a very beautiful little 

 creature. The female is as remarkable for the 

 quiet, unobtrusive tintings of her dress ; and, when 

 she lies crouching on her nest, elegantly formed of 

 lichens from the bark of the apple tree, and faded 

 mosses, she would hardly be perceptible, but for 

 her little bright eyes, that peep with suspicious 

 vigilance from her covert. With us the sexes do 

 not separate at any period of the year, the flocks 

 frequenting our barn doors and homesteads in win- 

 ter being composed of both. In the northern parts 

 of Europe, however, the females are said to migrate 

 to milder regions, which induced Linnseus to be- 



