1 92 Eniberizidce. 



too, says it breeds annually at Mere, and that he has seen it for 

 the last twenty years in one particular spot, but has never met 

 with it in any other part of the parish. In habits it closely 

 follows the Yellow Bunting, which it also greatly resembles in 

 general appearance ; differing, however, sufficiently to be at once 

 distinguished from the commoner species, by the dark green top 

 of the head and throat, olive-green breast, and other marks. 



FRINGILLIDJE (THE FINCHES). 



By some authors these are styled Passerine birds or Sparrows : 

 with the exception of the bill (which is broad and concave, in- 

 stead of being narrow and furnished with a prominent knob) they 

 closely resemble the Buntings last described. The members of 

 this family are all of small size, and their characteristics are largo 

 head, short neck, and compact body; they are an active lively 

 race, gregarious in winter, for the most part granivorous, and 

 very abundant numerically as well as specifically: we have no- 

 less than eleven distinct species in this county, either as 

 residents or occasional visitants. 



78. CHAFFINCH (FringUla ccekbs). 



As common as the Sparrow, and as well known to everybody, is 

 this active handsome bird, flocking to our yards in winter, and 

 frequenting our meadows and woods in summer; but not so 

 generally known, perhaps, is the cause of its specific name 

 ccelebs, ' the Bachelor.' It arises from the separation of the sexes 

 into distinct flocks in the winter in northern countries, the 

 females migrating southward by themselves, and leaving the 

 males to club together, as bachelors best may, or to follow after 

 their truant wives at their leisure: on this account Linnaeus 

 named them codebes, and the name is not undeserved even in 

 these more southern latitudes; for the males and females 

 frequently divide into separate flocks in the winter, as good old 

 Gilbert White of Selborne long since pointed out, and as we may 

 verify for ourselves any winter. 



