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PERCHING BIRDS. 

 CHAPTEE VIII. 



The FINCHES. The Chaffinch Description of the habits 

 and nesting of this bird The Greater Redpole, or Common 

 Linnet Its habits, and beauty of plumage in the male 

 The Lesser Redpole Diminutive size and pretty manners 

 of this little birdThe Twite, or Mountain Linnet The 

 Greenfinch One of our commonest birds The Hawfinch 

 An extremely shy bird The Goldfinch Beauty and 

 docility of this species Tame Goldfinches Anecdote of 

 a collection of trained Goldfinches, Linnets, and Canaries. 



THE transition from the buntings to the FINCHES 

 is easy ; the principal difference consisting in the 

 beak, which in the finch-tribe is conical, very 

 thick at the base, and tapering to a sharp point. 

 Their plumage varies much, according to sex and 

 age, whence has arisen some confusion in the 

 names given them the same birds being called by 

 different names. Of the numerous small birds 

 included in this family, each exhibits, in its own 

 domestic habits, as much skill and wisdom in the 

 management of its concerns as the wisest of 

 human kind. There is a difference between the 

 music of the warblers, which is soft, mellow, and 



