BRITISH BIRDS. 75 



freckled with rich chocolate-brown, but in nearly every 

 clutch is one " light " egg, sparingly marked with greyish- 

 brown ; size "78 by '55. Young, like those of House- 

 Sparrow, are fed upon small caterpillars, but old birds 

 feed largely on seeds ; in winter small flocks frequent 

 stubbles. Call note : a sharp chuck, chuck, less loud 

 and aggressive, than House-Sparrow's. 



GENUS XLI. FRINGILLA, Linnaeus (1766). 

 Bill rather longer than in Passer, mandibles nearly 

 equal. Wings with ist quill obsolete, 2nd rather short, 3rd 

 or 4th longest. Tail somewhat forked. 



91. Fringilla eselebs, Linn. CHAFFINCH. 



Hab. Western Palsearctic region ; in Europe north to 

 lat. 70 (Norway). 



Male : forehead black ; crown and nape bluish-grey ; 

 mantle reddish-brown ; lower back yellowish-green ; lesser 

 wing-coverts white, the greater black tipped with yellowish- 

 white ; quills dark brown, with pale greenish outer edges ; 

 two middle tail-feathers slate, rest black with large white 

 patches on two outermost feathers each side ; sides of head 

 and lower plumage light reddish-brown ; bill dusky ; iris 

 hazel ; tarsi brown. Length 6'oo. Female : slightly 

 smaller ; head and mantle dull brown ; white on wings 

 less noticeable ; under parts brownish-white, with a rufous 

 tinge on breast. Young resemble female. 



Common everywhere ; partially migratory in winter 

 when numbers also arrive from Continent ; sexes separate 

 at this season, many flocks consisting entirely of females, 

 while old males are often seen singly. Nest : placed in 

 bushes, hedges or lower branches of trees ; neatly com- 

 posed of moss, wool and hair, lined with hair and feathers ; 

 lichens, pieces of decayed wood, or spider's cocoons are 



