Birds of Britain 



early as March in the pine woods of Scotland, and during the 

 rest of the year it wanders about in small parties. Feeding 

 chiefly though not exclusively on the seeds of the pine, 

 which the peculiar formation of its beak enables it to reach 

 with ease, it will generally be found in plantations of 

 evergreens. Essentially of a wandering nature, it never 

 stays long in one locality, but leads a regular roving gipsy 

 existence, frequently making its home wherever it happens 

 to find itself in the breeding season, and from this cause it 

 has nested at irregular intervals in many of the southern 

 counties of England and in Ireland. The nest is always 

 built on the fork or lateral branch of a fir-tree, and is 

 composed of twigs, grass, and moss, lined with finer materials 

 of the same kind. 



The eggs are usually four in number and are pale blue 

 with a few reddish spots and streaks towards the larger 

 end. It is a very silent bird and has no song worthy of 

 a name. The call-note is " gip-gip." 



Insects and caterpillars are largely consumed during the 

 summer, but seeds and berries form their chief food in 

 winter. 



When first hatched the bill in young birds is straight, 

 but it assumes its characteristic shape very soon after they 

 are fledged. 



The adult male is crimson all over except the wings and 

 tail, which are brown. The female is dark greenish yellow 

 with striations of a darker tint. The young resemble the 

 female but are greyer and greener. Young cocks probably 

 do not assume their full plumage until the second or third 

 year but they breed in their immature dress. Old cocks 



'3* 



