520 PASSEEINES. 



siderable analogy to the Goldfinch. They are, like them, ex- 

 tremely sociable, except at the period of incubation ; that duty over, 

 the individuals begin to muster in small flocks towards the end of 

 autumn, which increase as the winter advances, when they betake 

 themselves to sheltered districts, and to the neighbourhood of 

 villages and farm-houses in search of food. They associate with 

 various species, such as the Mountain Linnet, Green Linnet, and 

 other small birds. The nest of the Linnet is generally placed in a 

 bush of furze or heath. It is a neat structure, formed externally 

 of blades of grass intermingled with moss and wool, and lined 

 with hair of various kinds; sometimes with thistle-down. The 

 female lays from four to six eggs, of an oval form, colour -bluish 

 white, marked with distinct spots of brownish black, purplish 

 grey, and reddish brown. Should the nest be destroyed during 

 incubation, the pair will build again, and lay two or three sets of 

 eggs if needful ; but the male is said to take no part in the 

 building or incubation, although he watches the female with great- 

 solicitude, supplying her with food during the process. 



The Linnets feed principally on hemp and linseed, whence their 

 popular name. In the winter season, in the absence of their 

 favourite food, they attack the young buds of trees, and pick up 

 the stray seeds about farm-yards. Their song in confinement 

 is remarkably sweet, brilliant, and varied, but will not compare 

 with the thrilling voice of the Blackbird or Thrush. The species 

 are numerous, both in Europe and America, but there is a tend- 

 ency to reduce their number, and to regard them as seasonal 

 varieties of the species under consideration. 



The CHAFFINCH (Fringilla coelebs, Linn.), Fig. 231, lives in flocks, 

 except when breeding, like the Goldfinch and Linnets. But they 

 differ from these members of the group in this that their wing 

 is less compact, and that they disperse themselves more in search 

 of food than their congeners. Chaffinches are met with all over 

 Europe, either as birds of passage or as permanent residents. 

 They feed on various kinds of seeds and larvae of insects, the latter 

 of which they obtain in the early mornings of summer and autumn 

 by searching the lower surface of the leaves of oak, ash, and other 

 trees. They inhabit indifferently the woods, gardens, or high 

 mountain ridges. In the early days of spring the mellow, modu- 



