THE CHAFFINCHES* 37 



as to resemble the surrounding of the branches on which it is 

 placed. The lining consists of horse-hair, feathers, and down. 



Eggs. Four to six. Very variable in tint, ranging from 

 bluish stone-colour to clear blue. In the former instance the 

 markings consist of a reddish or pink wash over the eggs, 

 which are dotted here and there with bold spots of black or 

 reddish brown. In the blue type of egg, the underlying spots 

 are pale violet and the upper spots and scratches are purplish 

 or black, and are generally congregated round the larger end. 

 Axis, o'75-o'S ; diam., o'55~o'6. 



II. THE BRAMBLING. FRINGILLA MONTIFRINGILLA. 



(Plate VII.} 



Fringilla montifringilla^ Linn., S. N., i., p. 318 (1766) ; Macg., 

 Br. B., i., p. 335 (1837) ; Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 15, pi. 184 

 (1871) ; Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 75 (1876) ; B. O. U. List 

 Br. B., p. 52 (1883) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xii., p. 

 178 (1888); Saunders, Man., p. 177 (1889). 



Adult Male. Differs from the Chaffinch in the white band 

 across the rump and in its variegated plumage. Head and 

 mantle blue-black ; flanks spotted with black ; a white specu- 

 lum on the wing, formed by the white base to the inner 

 primaries ; sides of face black like the crown ; under surface 

 pale orange-rufous, the abdomen white; bill bluish black ; feet 

 reddish brown; iris hazel. Total length, 6'2 inches; culmen, 

 0-55; wing, 3-5; tail, 2-45; tarsus, 075. 



Adult Female. Differs from the male in being much duller 

 and browner in colour. 



In winter, when the Brambling visits England, the colours 

 of the adult bird are obscured by sandy-coloured margins to 

 the feathers, which gradually wear off, leaving the feathers of 

 the breeding plumage in their full beauty. The bill is yellow 

 with a blackish tip. 



Range in Great Britain. A winter visitor only, arriving some- 

 times in enormous flocks. 



Range outside the British Islands. Europe and Northern Asia 

 to Japan. Breeds in Scandinavia up to lat. 60, and in 



