180 BIRDS' NESTS 



bushes, small trees, hedges and shrubs ; the Buntings 

 are mostly ground builders. Perhaps the most 

 elaborate builders are found amongst the typical 

 Finches, of which our own Chaffinch is a familiar ex- 

 ample — the Linnets, Redpoles, and Goldfinches ; next 

 in order of finish we may include the Crossbills, and 

 Bullfinches, and Grosbeaks ; whilst the least elaborate 

 number amongst them such forms as the Hawfinches 

 and Rose-finches, and more especially the Buntings. 

 The shallowest nests are made by such species as 

 the Hawfinches and Bullfinches, the deepest ones by 

 the Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Redpoles. One of 

 the most beautiful nests in the entire family is made 

 by the Common Chaffinch (Fringilla ccelehs). This 

 nest is most frequently made in a fork or crotch of 

 some lichen-covered branch, although other situations 

 are often selected. In shape it is a rounded cup, 

 and is variously made of moss, dry grass, fine roots, 

 cobwebs, lichens and wool outside, lined with feathers, 

 hair, vegetable down and wool. The Chaffinch always 

 appears to aim at assimilating her nest with the 

 colour and appearance of surrounding objects, hence 

 the materials employed in one situation would be 

 totally out of place in another. The external part 

 of the structure is therefore subject to the greatest 

 variation. Some nests are made externally almost 

 entirely of green moss ; others have this green moss 

 outer wall thickly studded with variously tinted 

 lichen, bits of decayed wood, cocoons, or even 



