244 THE CHAFFINCH. 



confined in aviaries commence as early as the beginning of 

 February, and sometimes continue the exercise for two months. 

 The period during which they sing usually terminates in June, 

 though some, which have been reared from the nest, will pro- 

 long their strains until Michaelmas. 



In order to make the Chaffinch sing by night as well as by 

 day, and to give its notes a greater depth and clearness, some 

 bird-fanciers are guilty of a shameful act of cruelty. They 

 first accustom the bird to find its food in the dark, by shutting 

 out the light from the cage, and then with a red-hot needle 

 either glue the eyelids together, or pierce the pupil, and* so de- 

 prive the unfortunate prisoner of sight. Such conduct cannot 

 be too strongly deprecated. 



The Chaffinch seems to be in general a docile bird, and to 

 possess other capabilities than that of song. A travelling Al- 

 satian, Jeantet, had one in his possession which was able to 

 distinguish and compare letters, figures, and colours ; though 

 it seemed to be scarcely as well acquainted with its lesson as 

 the Canaries which were exhibited at the same time. 



ADDITIONAL. YAEEELL remarks, that " the male Chaffinch is 

 one of the most handsome of our common small birds, and in his 

 general deportment is as lively as he is handsome. Thus distin- 

 guished by bright colours and active habits, and being besides 

 very numerous as a species, and confident in behaviour, allowing 

 the near approach of observers, without exhibiting much alarm ; 

 the Chaffinch is extremeJy well known, and as his gay appearance 

 and song frequently noticed as early as February, poin ts him out 

 as one of the first of our indigenous birds, to afford an indication 

 of returning spring, he is for these various reasons a general 

 favourite. With our continental neighbours, the Chaffinch is one 

 of their most common Cage-birds ; arid in France, from the lively 

 colours and demeanour of this bird, the term ' gay as a Chaffinch,' 

 is a proverbial phrase in frequent use. 



" The Finches, generally, are remarkable for the neatness and 

 beauty of the nests they construct, and the Chaffinch is no ex- 

 ception to the rule. The outside of their nest is composed of 

 moss, studded with white or green lichens, as may best accord 

 with the situation in which it is built ; the inside is lined with 

 wool, and that is again covered with hair and some feathers. 

 The eggs are usually four or five in number, of a pale purplish 

 buff, sparingly streaked, and spotted with dark reddish brown. 

 The place chosen is variable ; sometimes it is fixed in the fork of 

 a hush, in a hedge-row, on a branch of a wall-fruit tree, fre- 



