" The nest is cup-shaped and built of moss, wool, down, and spiders' webs closely woven and 



felted together." 



THE CHAFFINCH 



T 



HE Chaffinch is exceedingly 

 well known all over the 

 British Islands, whereso- 

 ever anything in the nature 

 of a tree attempts to grow. 

 It is a resident species, but 

 subject to a considerable 

 amount of wandering, some 

 of our home-bred birds crossing the 

 Channel and having their places filled 

 by arrivals from more northern parts of 

 Europe in the winter time.. A curious 

 thing in regard to the habits of this bird 

 is that flocks consisting almost exclu- 

 sively of males may be seen in one part 

 of the country and of females in another, 

 whilst congregations may sometimes be 

 met with in which both sexes are fairly 

 equally represented. 



During the autumn and winter Chaf- 

 finches frequently associate with green- 

 finches and house sparrows, and may be 



seen diligently hopping over stubble 

 fields or round farm buildings in search 

 of grain and see'ds. 



The handsomely coloured male is an 

 accomplished vocalist. He commences 

 to utter his song as early as February, 

 if the season be mild and open, and 

 continues until the end of June or be- 

 ginning of July. Early in the season it 

 is only a mediocre performance, but he 

 practises literally thousands of times per 

 day until it reaches perfection, when it 

 becomes a clear melodious ditty, the notes 

 of which have not inaptly been likened 

 to the words : " Will you, will you, kiss 

 me, dear." 



The call note is a clear, ringing spink, 

 spink, spink, which is, like that of the 

 blackbird, also used as an alarm cry, 

 and uttered with grefat vehemence when 

 the bird is angry. 



The nest, which may be found during 



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