THE CHAFFINCH. 293 



to help to twine it together. It is lined with wool, 

 over which there is a layer of hair and feathers : 

 and this elegant little structure, which is hardly 

 surpassed in beauty by that of any other European 

 bird, is placed on the tree or thickly-branched 

 shrub, sometimes among the boughs of the pear 

 or apple-tree, or in the holly or ivy. It is 

 made by the female bird alone ; but during the 

 time when she is hatching, her mate in some 

 measure atones for his former remissness, by never 

 quitting her except to procure food, which he 

 brings back and shares with her ; and no sooner 

 are the young birds hatched, than both parents are 

 actively employed in feeding them, hunting most 

 diligently for the soft-bodied insects and caterpillars 

 which suit them best, or bringing them, when 

 these fail, or when their increased powers can better 

 digest them, the grains of corn, which they extri- 

 cate for them from the husk with great dexterity. 



The chaffinch is remarkable for cleanliness and 

 perpetual trimming of its plumage, and very careful 

 too are these birds in removing from their nest any- 

 thing which would lessen its comfort. They have 

 two broods in the year, and the eggs, which are 

 four or five in number, are of a pale purplish 



