THE CHAFFINCH. 281 



my judgment from tlie individual whicli I possess 

 at present, I should on the contrary deem it to be 

 very familiar and confiding." This bird is some- 

 times called Grosheah cF Ardennes, and is thought 

 by Mr. Broderip to be the Pinson d' Ardennes of the 

 old French author Belon. Of its song nothing 

 seems certainly known, but it appears to be less 

 musical than most of the finches. Its call is 

 merely a monotonous chirp. Besides the seeds of 

 the fir tribe, it greedily devours those of our most 

 common plant, the knot grass. 



But leaving the more rare birds, for one whose 

 song is known to every country resident, we must 

 pass on to the Chaffinch* [Frincjilla coelehs), whose 

 lively call-note, and varied strain, may be heard as 

 soon as those of the blackbird, and while the chil- 

 ling winds of February are resounding through 

 the leafless trees. Now it perches on the wall, 

 picking out tiic seeds from that little white - 



• The Chaffinch is six inches in length. Head and neck dark 

 grey ; back chestnut ; wings black with two bands of white ; the 

 quills edged with pale brown; tail black, the outer feathers 

 partly white ; face, ear-coverts, and whole under parts reddish- 

 brown, brightest on the breast ; beak blue ; feet brown. The 

 female has all the colours more subdued, and more nearly 

 uniform. 



