170 WILD BIRDS 



days in an open winter and the most dismal, 

 colour being blotted out and form losing all its 

 definition, whereas in wild, stormy weather, even 

 in driving or lashing rain, there is always something 

 bold and effective to be seen. 



Another morning after a snowstorm, I found the 

 flock in the same field. Dozens of cock chaffinches 

 clustered within the space of a few yards in the bare 

 hedgerow, made a pretty bird picture, though as yet 

 their breasts have not begun to burn with the fires 

 of spring. Most of these birds, I should say, were 

 foreigners, but our home birds the old cock 

 chaffinches among them are probably not brighter 

 in tint at this season. And yet these birds, I believe, 

 were all full-plumaged. The burning rosy tint which 

 the chaffinches will begin to wear in a month's time, 

 and which will be at its best by mid-March, is not 

 made through the addition of new breast feathers. 



How exactly the fire is kindled and brought to 

 such a glow I cannot say, but the thing, I am sure, 

 is quite independent of any moult. The extra gloss 

 on the breast of the chaffinch in March is got by the 

 feathers growing smoother and smoother, and sitting 

 more and more exactly on each other, but the extra 

 glow or fire on those smooth feathers is another 

 matter. As to why it is lit up, on the other hand, we 

 need be in no doubt it is the " dressiness " of natural 

 selection, the finery of feathers by which the cock 

 chaffinch appeals to the hen : and when it burns 

 its brightest, the bird is at his highest physical 

 perfection and greatest spirit. 





