In Farm and Garden. 165 



Another thing we have remarked in this species, 

 and that is its much handsomer nests in Yorkshire 

 than in Devonshire. We never found much garni- 

 ture of paper, lichen, and cocoons on nests in the 

 latter county; in fact, the faculty of mimicry does 



The Brambling. 



not seem so pronounced in these southern indi- 

 viduals. During winter the northern shires are in- 

 vaded by vast flocks of Chaffinches, presumably from 

 continental areas. Upon their first appearance in 

 November these flocks are almost entirely composed 

 of males; the females arrive later, and before the 

 winter is over the sexes are more or less intermixed. 

 The Brambling, of course, we have as a winter 

 visitor only. We have repeatedly remarked the 



