CHAFFINCH. ' lt)l 



Algerian bird, but differs from it in having the throat and upper breast 

 buff, instead of pinkish buff. In the Azores, six or seven hundred miles 

 to the north-west, not only the throat and upper breast, but the whole of 

 the underparts are buff. This species has been named F. moreleti. In the 

 Canary Islands, which lie some three hundred miles south of Madeira, and 

 are obviously an extension of the Atlas Mountains, the Chaffiuch,~wmch is 

 known by the name F. tintillon, has scarcely any trace of green on the 

 slate-grey of the upper back, but has the buff underparts of the Azores 

 bird. These forms are probably only subspecifically distinct. It seems 

 probable that these islands occasionally receive emigrants from the other 

 islands, and the mainland, which probably remain and interbreed with 

 their congeners, as examples from Teneriffe are occasionally suffused with 

 yellowish green on the upper back, and the amount of yellowish green 

 on the upper back of birds from the Azores varies and, in very rare 

 instances, is absent altogether. In the alpine regions of Teneriffe a 

 much more distinct species occurs, F. teydea, in which the whole of the 

 plumage of both upper and underparts is slate-grey, paler on the tips of 

 the wing-coverts, and shading into white on the under tail-coverts. 



Few of our British birds are more gaily attired than the pert and lively 

 Chaffinch, and few are better known; for there is scarcely a hedge- 

 row, wood, garden, or shrubbery that does not, at some season of the 

 year, contain Chaffinches in abundance. The bird may be easily recog- 

 nized by its oft-repeated and cheerily uttered note of pinky pink, pink, 

 whence it has derived its commonest local name " Spink." The haunts of 

 this gay little bird are shrubberies, woods, and hedgerows, together with 

 orchards, well- wooded parks, and gardens. In autumn and winter it also 

 frequents the open fields and stubbles, the commons, and the waste lands 

 near the sea. 



The Chaffinch is a lively bird, and rarely fails to attract the attention of 

 even the most casual observer, as it either sits on some exposed twig and 

 rattles off its merry laughing song, or mayhap as it flits along the hedge- 

 rows, or as it hops and runs up and down the country-road picking amongst 

 the droppings. Early in March, when the pale primroses are peeping from 

 under the withered leaves, and the hawthorn shows the first signs of verdure, 

 the song of the Chaffinch assists in welcoming the advent of spring. At 

 this season it is the life of the woods and groves, almost the only music 

 the boughs afford. The song of the Chaffinch is short and even monoto- 

 nous compared with that of many other birds ; still there is a freshness 

 and sprightliness about it which well makes up for its lack of melody. The 

 bird also seems so earnest in his performance that his entire vigour seems 

 thrown into his melody, and its loud ringing tones fill the air and the 

 woodlands around with gladness. His song may be heard incessantly 

 from March to June, and occasionally to the middle of July, when it ceases 



