XIII 



CHAFFINCHES IN MARCH 



IN the song of one chaffinch is more feeling of 

 spring coming than in the songs of many thrushes. 

 This song, immediately after the spell of bitter days 

 and nights, is a song of joy, of relief. Through the 

 snow and frost no chaffinch gave a song note, only 

 " pink, pink ! " The thaw comes, and after a 

 night of wringing wet the morning breaks warm and 

 sweet. At once the chaffinch is in full song for two 

 hours or more. 



How good it is, on hearing one's first chaffinch 

 just before breakfast on a clean, clear morning, to 

 look out of window and see him taking his song 

 survey ! If he began somewhere mid-way in the 

 spruce or deodara, and is out of sight in its thickets, 

 he is sure to take his dipping flight presently to the 

 topmost twig of one of those or a neighbouring shrub, 

 and strike up there instead ; for the chaffinch prefers 

 for his song a twig, exposed and prominent a 

 perch of vantage, where he can see and be seen by 

 chaffinches. 



Without the refined build of the warblers, or the 

 rare colouring and spright of the redstart, the cock 

 chaffinch is yet a lovely bird. That lead-blue cap, 

 those white-barred wings, that living lustre, chestnut 



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