508 FRINGILLID A. 
second or third, which are equal, and the longest in the wing. Legs with the tarsi 
of moderate length; toes divided, and adapted for hopping and perching ; claws 
curved and sharp. 
Tue male Chaffinch is one of the most handsome of our 
common small birds, and in his general deportment is as 
lively as he is handsome. Thus distinguished by bright co- 
lours and active habits, and being besides very numerous as 
a species, and confident in behaviour, allowing the near ap- 
proach of observers without exhibiting much alarm, the Chaf- 
finch is extremely well known; and as his gay appearance 
and song, frequently noticed as early as February, points 
him out as one of the first of our indigenous birds to afford 
an indication of returning spring, he is for these various 
reasons a general favourite. With our Continental neigh- 
bours the Chaffinch is one of their most common cage- 
birds ; and in France, from the lively colours and demean- 
our of this bird, the term “‘gay as a Chaffinch,” is a 
proverbial phrase in frequent use. Linnzus, in his Fauna 
of Sweden, says that the female Chaffinches migrate from 
that country in winter, but that the males do not, and he 
bestowed upon the species the name of celebs, or bachelor, 
in reference to these deserted males. At the present time 
Professor Nilsson, of Sweden, says, that although but few 
remain in that country during winter, they are not males 
only; but even the temporary separation of the sexes 
among birds is not an unusual occurrence, and Mr. Selby, 
in his history of the Chaffinch, says, that im “‘ Northumber- 
land and Scotland this separation takes place about the 
month of November, and from that period till the return of 
spring, few females are to be seen, and those few always in 
distinct societies. The males remain, and are met with, 
during the winter, in immense flocks, feeding with other 
granivorous birds in the stubble lands, as long as the 
