528 FRINGILLHLE. 



ting within those of the upper. Nostrils basal, lateral, oblique, oval, nearly hid- 

 den by the short feathers at the base of the beak. Wings long, rather powerful, 

 the second and third quill-feathers of nearly equal length, and rather longer than 

 the first. Legs with the tarsi short, not exceeding the length of the middle toe ; 

 the outer toe longer than the inner one ; claws sharp and curved, the hind toe and 

 claw broad and strong. Tail short, and more or less forked. 



THE GREENFINCH, or Green Grosbeak, as it is very com- 

 monly called from the great size of its beak, is one of our 

 most common birds, and remains in this country through- 

 out the year, changing its ground occasionally only to ob- 

 tain a sheltered situation in severe weather. It frequents 

 gardens, orchards, shrubberies, small woods, and cultivated 

 lands, where these birds may be seen actively employed, 

 sometimes on the ground, at other times in tall hedges, 

 or among the branches of trees, searching for grain, seeds, 

 or insects, to satisfy their appetite. The notes of this 

 bird are harsh and monotonous, but it occasionally utters 

 a few that may be called melodious ; and, like many others 

 of the Finches, when kept in confinement, it endeavours 

 to imitate the song of any birds kept in the same room, 

 and without many qualities to recommend it as a cage 

 bird, it soon becomes tame and reconciled to its prison. 



It is said to be rather a late breeder ; but its nest may 

 frequently be found towards the end of April in low bushes 

 or hedges, and sometimes in trees. The nest is composed 

 on the outside of coarse fibrous roots, with bits of wool 

 and green moss interwoven, lined with finer roots, horse- 

 hair, and feathers. The eggs are from four to six in 

 number, white, tinged with blue, the larger end spotted 

 and speckled with purplish grey and dark brown; the 

 length nine lines and a half, by six lines and a half in 

 breadth. 



The young birds are fed for a time with insects and soft 

 vegetable substances, and as the season advances these 



