IlS cassell's book of birds. 



recklessly expose their lives and liberty ; all that is needful is to place a decoy in a snare, and its 

 brethren will hasten in numbers to the trap, their angry little passions hurrying them to their 

 destruction, for when the decoy is properly posted, the wild birds come down for the express 

 purpose of engaging it in a fight, and thus rendering themselves an easy prey, are caught by 

 means of limed twigs. Chaffinches are never injurious, and often very useful to man, as they destroy 

 a great quantity of seeds — chiefly those of various weeds — whilst the numbers of insects consumed 

 by their little bills render them real benefactors to the woods and gardens. 



THE MOUNTAIN FINCH. 



The Mountain Finch (Fringilla montifrbigilld) is a species known by a great variety of names. 

 Its length is about six and a half to seven inches, its breadth ten and a half to eleven inches. The 

 plumage of the male bird during the breeding season is of a brilliant deep black, and on the fore part 

 of the neck and shoulders of an orange colour ; the under parts of the body and breast are white, the 

 sides black ; in the female bird the latter are marked with long pale black streaks, while over the 

 wings run two white lines ; the under wing-covers are brimstone yellow. The female is brownish- 

 black upon the head, neck, and back ; the under parts of the body are of a sober, dull shade. After 

 the moulting season the beautiful bright hues of these birds are hidden by the light yellowish- 

 brown edges of the feathers. Countries beyond 65 ° north latitude maybe considered as the homes of 

 the Mountain Finch, it being by no means rare in Lapland, and very numerous in Finland ; how far 

 east it may be found we are at present ignorant. From these northern regions it emerges during the 

 winter, covering the whole of Europe as far as Greece and Spain, and Asia even to the Himalaya 

 Mountains, forming large flocks during the month of August, and then coming gradually farther and 

 farther south. It reaches Germany in September, and Spain somewhat later, the latter country, 

 indeed, being never visited so regularly as Germany. Mountains and large close forests are the 

 favourite resorts of these birds, and decide their course, always supposing that their intended route is 

 not disturbed by meeting with flocks of other kinds of finches, to whom they are very ready to unite 

 themselves — indeed, the Mountain Finch is generally seen in company with Chaffinches, Linnets, 

 Yellowhammers, Field Sparrows, and Goldfinches, a group of trees being usually chosen as the 

 gathering-place of this very varied company, and the nearest wood affording them their sleeping 

 quarters. Should a heavy fall of snow occur, they are compelled to remove to another place in search 

 of food ; their migrations are, therefore, dependent upon the suitability of the spot, and in nowise 

 regular or premeditated. The Mountain Finch very much resembles the Chaffinch, and like it, 

 is quarrelsome and violent, in spite of its apparently social disposition, equalling the bird we have 

 just mentioned in its activity, but far inferior in the quality of its song, which, indeed, we can only 

 describe as a plaintive little chirp. 



The Mountain Finch is usually, but unjustly, considered to be stupid, because, like most other 

 northern birds, it exhibits boldness and confidence when it first reaches us, it however soon loses these 

 qualities and becomes cunning and shy. Though much to be admired on account of the beauty of 

 its plumage, its many disagreeable qualities, and quavering, weak voice, prevent it from being 

 regarded as suitable for domestication. The food of this species consists principally of seeds 

 from various plants and trees ; in summer they devour great quantities of flies and insects, and 

 can live for many years upon rapeseed, and other simple diet. The nest and eggs bear a most 

 deceptive resemblance to those of the Chaffinch. The Mountain Finch is sought for on account of 

 its well-flavoured though somewhat bitter flesh, and is caught in great numbers. 



