THE SMEW GREENFINCH. 141 



but a short time in this island ; appearing about the latter 

 end of May, and retiring from every part of Britain by the 

 end of September. Its notes resemble the noise of a large 

 spinning-wheel, and the sound is very shrill and loud. It 

 receives its name from its fancied property of sucking the 

 teats of goats. 



THE SMEW. 



THIS bird measures, from the point of the bill to the end 

 of the tail, near eighteen inches; and from the extremity 

 of each wing, when extended, upwards of two feet ; and 

 weighs about a pound and a half. It has a fine crest upon 

 the head, which falls down toward the back part of it, under 

 which, on each side of the head, is a black spot ; the rest 

 of the head and neck are white, as are the under parts of 

 the body; the back and the wings are of an agreeable 

 mixture of black and white. The tail is about three 

 inches long, of a sort of dusky ash-colour, the feathers 

 on each side shortening gradually. The bill is of a lead 

 colour, it is somewhat less than the generality of the 

 duck kind, a little hooked, with large open nostrils; 

 the legs are much of the colour of the bill. 



The female of this bird has no crest ; the sides of the 

 head are red, the throat white, and the wings of a dusky 

 ash-colour; in other respects it agrees with the male. 

 They feed on fish, but are very rarely seen in England, 

 except in very hard seasons, and then not more than three 

 or four of them together. 



THE GREENFINCH 



Is rather larger than a sparrow, of a yellowish green 

 colour, slightly varied with yellow. It occurs commonly 

 in most parts of the continent, and builds its nest in a low 

 thick bush or hedge, and forms it of dry grass, lined with 

 hair, wool, and feathers ; it is very careful of its eggs. 

 This bird is remarkably docile, becoming easily familiar- 

 ized, and learning the songs of other birds. 



