THE FINCH FAMILY. 87 



the brambling waits until they have lain under the 

 leaves for a month or two, when the outer covering 

 has softened. I have known numbers of these birds 

 visit the neighbourhood of Dorking and the Tilling- 

 bourne, and especially the woods of Wotton. Of 

 late years they have become scarcer. 



I kept a pair once, to observe their change of 

 plumage in breeding-time. It was remarkable, the 

 head and back of the cock bird turning jet-black. 

 They were birds of a somewhat unpleasant disposi- 

 tion, so after a time I gave them their liberty. 



The finches are bright and intelligent birds, very 

 useful in their proper home the woods and the 

 fields ; but those who value a full crop or, in some 

 cases, any crop at all will be careful to exclude 

 them from the garden. 



