90 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



the season : in the spring the male flies with a motion 

 somewhat similar to that of the Swallow, and utters its 

 song in the fulness of its heart whilst upon the wing; 

 but when the exuberance of summer has subsided its flight 

 becomes modified, and though still quick and strong, is quite 

 straight, with a very rapid movement of the wings. When 

 collected in flocks, the birds fly closely together, and make 

 a splendid chance shot for the embryo sportsman. They are 

 also easily caught in a net or trap ; the gullibility of a 

 Greenfinch being remarkable ; perhaps their habit of 

 congregating together makes the attraction of a brace, 

 or call-bird, doubly enticing. 



The hen is somewhat similar in appearance to the male 

 bird, but is shorn of the glory of the brilliant yellow that 

 forms his chief attraction, a dull, greenish, leaden grey 

 being the prevailing colour of her plumage. 



Greenfinches generally build their nest in high and thick 

 hedges, but are very easily pleased with a building site, 

 often choosing bushes, especially elder or evergreens, and 

 sometimes the small lower branches of a tree. The 

 nest is somewhat loose as regards the exterior, which is 

 composed of twigs and a lot of moss ; but they study the 

 comfort of the interior more narrowly, lining it softly with 

 wool, feathers, and horsehair. The eggs are generally five 

 or six in number, though as many as seven have been 

 known. In about fourteen days the young are hatched, 

 and are fed by the parent birds until old enough to 

 leave the nest. Their appearance at this time is very 

 different, being greenish-grey upon the upper parts, and 

 with this colour as a groundwork, streaked with dark brown 

 upon the back, breast, and throat. Their mouths are of a 

 dark crimson inside when in the nest, and are always open 



