fulvous ; larger coverts blackish brown, broadly tipped with white ; smaller coverts almost pure white ; 

 least coverts and scapulars dull lead-blue; cheeks, auriculars, throat, and underparts generally rich 

 reddish brown, this colour gradually becoming lighter towards the lower part of the abdomen, which, 

 with the under tail-coverts, is dirty white ; under wing-coverts white, those on the edge of the wing 

 marked with black; bill bluish lead; legs dull brown; iris hazel. Total length 60 inches, culmen 055, 

 wing 3 - 45, tail 3, tarsus - 75. 



Adult Male in winter (Hareskov, Denmark, 7th of January). Everywhere much duller in colour; the black 

 on the forehead and lead-blue on the head and nape hidden by the feathers there having dull brown 

 tips ; the white on the wings washed with yellowish ; underparts paler than in the summer plumage ; 

 beak pale reddish brown, darker at the point, under mandible flesh-brown ; legs dull brown. 



Female (Falster, Denmark). Head and back dull dark brown, darkest on the crown; rump and upper tail- 

 coverts dull green ; wings and tail as in the male, but rather duller ; underparts generally dull greyish 

 brown, fading into dirty white on the centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts ; beak, legs, and 

 iris as in the male. 



The Common Chaffinch is everywhere in Europe a numerous species, and is found in the summer 

 season up into the high north, whence it migrates during the winter into Southern Europe, a 

 few remaining in the higher portions of Central Europe during moderately mild winters. It 

 occurs from the extreme west to the Ural range, and southward into Northern Africa, where, 

 however, it is a rare species, found only in the winter. 



In Great Britain it is one of our commonest and best-known birds, and is found throughout 

 the country up to the extreme north of Scotland. We have ourselves met with it in eveiy 

 county in England; and as regards its range in Scotland, we transcribe the following from 

 Mr. Kobert Gray's excellent work on the birds of the west of Scotland: — "The pert and 

 familiar Chaffinch is widely distributed throughout Scotland. It is found in several localities in 

 the Outer Hebrides, especially in the sheltered districts of Harris and Lewis ; there are none on 

 the treeless islands. Mr. Elwes informs me that on one occasion he observed a female Chaffinch 

 on the summit of Ben-a-Chaolais, in the island of Jura, at an elevation of 2500 feet." As regards 

 its range in Ireland, Thompson says that it " is a common resident species throughout the culti- 

 vated and wooded parts of that country." On the Fseroes it is not uncommon, though not found 

 in Iceland or the Shetland or Orkney Islands. In Scandinavia it is numerous ; and in Norway, 

 Mr. Collett writes to us, "it is found commonly up to the Polar circle, where it breeds in 

 Saltdalen. Boie observed a few in Lofoten. On the fells a few pass through the fir-region into 

 the birch-belt, and stragglers remain to winter in the coast region." According to Nilsson it is 

 .in Sweden "equally common throughout the whole country. A few remain throughout the 

 winter in Skane, even in severe seasons." Dresser met with it in Finland in all parts of the 

 country up to the borders of Lapland, though more numerous in the central and southern 

 portions of the country. In Russia Mr. Sabanaeff informs us it is " a common forest-bird, but 

 not so numerous in Perm as in Central Russia, where at times, though rarely, a few remain to 

 winter. It usually arrives in Central Russia late in March, and migrates away early in October.'' 

 It is common in the Baltic provinces. Count C. Wodzicki found it unusually numerous in the 

 mountains of Poland, and remarks that he can scarcely understand how such numbers can find 



