THE GREENFINCH. 163 



Dill, aai then to split or tear the object by the lateral force. When 

 he gave them, as he often did, almonds in their shell, they got at the 

 kernel in the same manner ; first pecking a hole, and then enlarging 

 this by wrenching off the pieces by the lateral force. 



Notwithstanding the apparent awkwardness of this beak, the Cross- 

 bills are able, by bringing the mandibles point to point, even to pick 

 up and eat the smallest seeds. The German bird-catchers usually feed 

 them with poppy and other small seeds; and they shell hempseeds in 

 Citing them, as well as any other birds whatever. These birds breet 

 in Austria ; building their hemispherical nests in the branches of high 

 trees. In these they lay a few whitish eggs, spotted towards the 

 thicker end with red. They are somewhat rare in England. 



THE GREENFINCH. 



The upper parts of the body are of a yellowish green, and some of 

 the lower parts are white. The outer quill-feathers 

 are edged with yellow. The tail is forked, and 

 the four lateral feathers are yellow at the base. 

 The bill is brownish, and the legs flesh-colored. 



Greenfinches are very common birds in Eng- 

 land. They build their nests in hedges, and 

 lay five or six eggs, of a pale green color, 

 marked with blood-colored spots. During the 

 breeding-time, the bird that is not immediately 

 engaged in incubation or nutrition, may often GREENFINCH. 



be seen sporting on the wing, in a pleasing manner, over the bush. 



They are so easily tamed, as sometimes to eat out of the hand in 

 five or ten minutes after they are taken, if there be an opportunity of 

 immediately carrying them into the dark. The bird should then be 

 put upon the finger, from which, not knowing how to fly in the dark, 

 it will not attempt to move : the finger of the other hand should after- 

 wards be put under its breast, on which it will climb. This must be 

 repeated eight or ten times ; and by stroking and caressing the bird 

 at the intervals, it will find that no injury is intended. The light 

 being then let in by degrees, it will very frequently eat bruised seed 

 out of the hand, and afterwards continue tame. 



The Greenfinch inhabits the whole of Europe, and a large portion of 

 Asia, with the exception of the most northerly countries; it is also nu- 

 merous in Spain, but quite unknown in Siberia. Everywhere it is 

 found about pasture land, and such localities as are at no great distance 

 from human habitations; it avoids all thickly wooded places, and usu- 

 ally lives in pairs or small parties, the latter increasing into large flocks 

 only during their passage from one country to another, at which times 

 they associate freely with many other small birds of kindred habits. 

 The Greenfinch generally selects some small coppice or garden for its 

 residence, and passes the entire day in flitting from place to place, air 

 upon the ground, whither it resorts in search of food. At night it 

 seeks a shelter in the branches of some thick foliaged tree. 



