92 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



During 1 the winter these birds will often admit strangers 

 of the same class into their flock, and many a stray Chaf- 

 finch or Linnet may be observed feeding with them. When 

 alarmed, they all rise and hurry off to the nearest tree. A 

 stray one amidst a flock of Linnets may always be so 

 traced, as the Linnets remain in the open, while the Green- 

 finch rushes off to shelter. 



The Greenfinch is, perhaps, the commonest of the Finch 

 tribe, the Sparrow alone excepted, and is to be found 

 throughout the whole of the cultivated portions of Great 

 Britain, and is well known in Ireland. The length and 

 breadth of Europe is laid under contribution, and along the 

 Levant and in Asia Minor it is plentiful. 



