BRITISH BIRDS. 239 



haunts, during summer, are woods and thickets, 

 but in winter it approaches nearer to cultivated 

 grounds, and feeds on seeds, winter berries, &c. : 

 in the spring it frequents gardens, where it is 

 usefully busy in destroying the worms which are 

 lodged in the tender buds. The female makes her 

 nest in bushes; it is composed chiefly of moss; 

 she lays five or six eggs, of a dull bluish white, 

 marked at the larger end with dark spots. In a 

 wild state, its note is very simple; but when kept 

 in a cage, its song, though in an under subdued 

 tone, is far from being unpleasant. Both male and 

 female may be taught to whistle a variety of tunes. 

 They are frequently imported into this country 

 from Germany, where they are taught to articulate, 

 with great distinctness, several words. 





