CHAFFINCH. 55 



of our stubble-fields is generally finished about the end of 

 December. Those which have been sown out with grass seeds 

 may still afford a slight supply of food, but it is then that 

 the great body of Chaffinches seek shelter near the homestead, 

 gleaning their food in the cattle-yards, at the barn-door, on 

 the sides and round about the stacks. Here, as in the fields, 

 they are distinguished for their watchfulness, and well do the 

 little birds know the import of their warning note. The Dipper 

 may be heard by the mountain stream the livelong year, and 

 the bold Missel Thrush may stir the woodlands in sunny hours, 

 even in mid- winter; here the E-obin and the Wren are silent 

 during the dead season, and the Chaffinch is the leader of 

 the vernal chorus. 



When the oats are sown in March, many small flocks betake 

 themselves to the fields, feeding on the uncovered grains, and 

 such small seeds as may be turned up in the course of tillage. 

 Even our sheltered woods on the banks of Whittingham- Water 

 are seldom altogether deserted; for the autumn leaves, when 

 swept aside by the blast, seem to disclose a multitude of small 

 seeds congenial to their taste. As the season advances, these 

 flocks gradually disperse, and none remain about the farm- 

 yards but such as breed in tne garden and neighbouring 

 hedge-rows; and they may daily be seen foraging for a supply 

 of their winter fare, even in midsummer, but desist entirely 

 from pilfering from the sides of the stacks; even the new- 

 fledged young partake of such food. During the summer 

 months, insects and their larva? constitute their chief support, 

 perhaps I might almost say, in many cases, their only support, 

 for they are often found in the loneliest places in woods 

 and plantations. 



The first annoyance they give to the farmer is by destroying 

 his early crops of radishes, turnips, and onions, in the garden, 

 besides making sad havoc with his polyanthuses and auriculas ; 

 but a few barn-door fowls' feathers inserted into a piece of 

 cork, and allowed to dangle in the wind over the beds, are 

 sure to drive away our merry little songster, who does our 

 apple, pear, and apricot trees good service, when infested by 

 leaf-rolling caterpillars, besides other insect foes of which we 

 take no note. He is also a very useful auxiliary to the farmer, 

 as well as to the gardener, by destroying a multitude of small 

 seeds, amongst which I may enumerate those of chickweed, 

 groundsel, bulbous and hairy crowfoot. He is one of the 



