148 GOLDCEEST. 



of Chaffinches to make their own; one was noticed to do so 

 most slyly, watching its opportunity, and approaching from 

 the opposite direction; but on the Chaffinch detecting and 

 chasing it, it did not repeat the theft. It is frequently lined 

 with feathers, and is altogether a singularly elegant piece of 

 architecture; the feathers are so placed as to project inward: 

 two nests have been found on one branch. Mr. Hewitson 

 says 'It is sometimes placed upon the upper surface of the 

 branch; and I have also seen it, but rarely, placed against 

 the trunk of the tree upon the base of a diverging branch, 

 and at an elevation of from twelve to twenty feet above the 

 ground.' He also mentions in the 'Zoologist,' page 825, his 

 having once met with the nest in a low juniper bush, very 

 little more than a foot from the ground. Deserted nests of 

 this species are frequently to be met with, but the reason is 

 not known. The eggs in one nest were observed placed in 

 two rows, with the small ends touching each other. 



The eggs are four, five, six, or seven, to eight, or even ten, 

 or even eleven in number; they are of a very pale reddish 

 or brownish white, the larger end being much the darkest 

 coloured, light reddish brown: some have been known pure 

 white, sparingly spotted with reddish brown here and there. 

 They are smaller than those of any other British bird, and 

 are sometimes almost of a globular shape. The young are 

 fed by both the parents. It is thought that two broods are 

 reared in the year, and that the second is less numerous than 

 the first. Eggs, fresh laid, have been met with in May and 

 June, while young birds have been known fully fledged by 

 the third week in April. The same nest has also been 

 known to have been used twice the same season, two broods 

 being hatched and reared; but whether by the same parents 

 or not, of course could not be told. 



Male; weight, about seventy-six or from that to eighty 

 grains; length, three inches and a half, to three and three 

 quarters; bill, blackish: the mouth, dusky orange; iris, dark 

 brown ; the eyelid, black : the eyes are surrounded by a pale 

 dusky ring, encircled by another of dull white. Forehead, 

 pale greyish white with a tinge of yellow; head on the sides, 

 yellowish grey, on the crown, in its centre, bright reddish 

 orange, the feathers elongated and of a silky texture; the 

 inner webs of the inner feathers pale yellow, on each side of 

 this is a black band; neck on the back and nape, light 

 yellowish olive green, with a tint of brown; chin, throat, 



