THE MOUNTAIN FINCH. 246 



quently in an apj>le or pear-tree, several feet above the ground. 

 A correspondent in the Field Naturalist's Magazine, relates that 

 a pair of Chaffinches built in a shrub so near his sitting-room 

 window as to allow him to be a close observer of their opera- 

 tions. The foundation of their nest was laid on the 12th of 

 April, the female only worked at the nest-making, and, by un- 

 wearied diligence, the beautiful structure was finished in three 

 weeks ; the first egg was deposited on the 2d of May, four 

 others were subsequently added, and the whole five were hatched 

 on the 15th. During the time of incubation, neither curiosity 

 nor constant observation from the opened window disturbed the 

 parent bird ; she sat most patiently ; the male bird often visited 

 liis partner, but it was not discovered whether he ever brought 

 her food." 



It is said by LINN^US, in his Fauna of Sweden, that the 

 female Chaffinches migrate from that country in winter, but that 

 the males do not, and the name of Ccelebs, the bachelor, was be- 

 stowed by him on this species, in reference to this circumstance. 

 SELBY and WHITE, as well as other English naturalists, have 

 noticed this separation of the sexes, "which," says BOLTON, " it 

 is difficult to account for ; perhaps the males being more hardy 

 and better able to endure the northern winters, are content to 

 remain in the country and pick up such fare as they can find, 

 while the females seek for subsistence in more temperate re- 

 gions." 



With WATERTON, it may be observed, the Chaffinch is a prime 

 favourite, as, indeed, from its beauty, liveliness, and docility it 

 well deserves to be. Twink, Shelly, Shell-apple, Chaffy, Boldie, 

 and Beech Finch, are the names by which it is known in different 

 localities ; in Scotland they call it the Shilfa, under which name 

 several of their poets have alluded to the bird. 



104. THE MOUNTAIN PINCH. 



Fringilla Montifringitta, LIN. Pinson d' Ardennes, BUF. Der 

 Berg Fink, BECH. 



Description. The Mountain Finch is six inches and a quar- 

 ter in length, of which the tail measures two inches and a half. 

 The beak is half an inch long ; brown in winter, and in 

 summer yellow, tipped with black. The feet are nine lines in 

 height, and dark flesh colour. The feathers of the head and 

 throat are bright black, with a border of dark reddish yellow, 

 which becomes less marked as the bird advances in age. The 

 belly is mottled with white; the feathers of the back are 

 black, with a broad margin of dark yellow. The rump is 



