42 CHAFFINCH. 



transverse bars on the wing ; otherwise lores and throat 

 black. Upper and under parts like the last. Length 5J in. 

 Female, similar. Young have black markings replaced with 

 brown, and wing-bars washed with buff. 



Language. Much like the last but, if anything, its chirrup- 

 ings are rather more tuneful. 



Habits. More shy and active than the last, and more par- 

 tial to trees, seeking its food there as well as on the ground. 



Food. Insects, caterpillars, and spiders. Various kinds of 

 seeds in winter. 



Nest. April onwards. Two or three broods. 



Site. In holes in trees, preferably pollards growing near 

 water, in holes in walls, sometimes in the outside of thatched 

 roofs. 



Materials. Dry grass and straw lined with feathers, wool, 

 and hair. In shape like the last, and untidily and flimsily 

 constructed. 



Eggs. Four to six. Much like the last but smaller. Greyish 

 white, speckled and spotted with various shades of brown and 

 dark grey. Variable. 



CHAFFINCH (Fringilla ccdebs). 



Resident. Generally distributed throughout Great Britain. 



Haunts. Well-wooded districts. 



Plumage. Forehead velvety black. Crown and nape bluish 

 grey. Mantle bright chestnut. Rump yellowish green. Breast 

 chestnut-red passing into white on the belly. Wings black with 

 two white conspicuous bars. Tail black; two middle feathers 

 grey, two outer feathers broadly banded with white, conspicuous 

 in flight. Bill lead-colour. Legs brown. Length 6 in. Female : 

 back and crown buffish brown ; under parts buffish grey. 

 Young, like female but paler. 



Language. Song, bright and joyful though tending towards 

 monotony, as it is repeated again and again without the slightest 

 variation. It pitches deliberately on the highest note and ener- 

 getically rattles down the scale in a staccato manner, thus : 

 " tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip-turrrrl-turrrrl," terminating with " tissi-ear " 

 or "de-ur." Call-note, " \vhit " or "twit." Alarm-note, like 

 " pink " or " spink," rather metallic. 



Habits. Sociable in winter, but the sexes usually keep 

 apart until early spring (hence " coelebs"). It both runs and 

 hops when feeding on the ground. Flight undulating. 



Food. Chiefly insectivorous in summer; in winter, seeds of 

 various kinds and grain. 



Nest. April onwards. Two or three broods. 



Site. - In fork of some lichen -clad fruit-tree, on lateral 



