food; for almost every tenth or fifteenth tree contained a nest of this species. Throughout 

 Germany it is a common bird during the summer — a few males, but seldom any females, 

 remaining over winter in the eastern part ; whereas in the west many males, and now and then a 

 few females, remain. In the mountain-forests it is, according to Borggreve, almost the only bird 

 found breeding in numbers at an altitude of 1500-3500 feet. Dr. E. Eey, writing from Halle 

 A. S., says that he has there observed only males during the winter season, whereas from other 

 localities he has heard that females only, or at least but few males, are seen during that season. 

 In Denmark, writes Mr. Benzon, "it is everywhere common where there are groves and woods ; 

 and it has but one name, that of Bogfinke, or ' Beechfinch,' derived either from its fondness for 

 beech-nuts, or else from its inhabiting more especially our beech-groves. The females migrate at 

 latest in November and return in March, and hence Linne's name of ccelebs, or ' bachelor.' A 

 few of the hen birds occasionally remain with us over the winter. It breeds with us at least 

 twice in the year, from late in April to early in May, and again in August, and lays from four to 

 five, rarely six eggs." 



It is equally common in Holland, Belgium, and France, in Belgium, however, far more 

 numerous during the seasons of migration than during the breeding-season. In Portugal it is, 

 according to Professor Barboza du Bocage, common — though Dr. Bey informs us that it is rare, 

 and that during his residence in that country he only saw it on one occasion, near Algarve, in 

 the month of April. In Spain it is, according to Major Irby, " very common, more so in the 

 winter than in the summer season, and not seen on the Rock of Gibraltar after May ; " and Mr. 

 Howard Saunders writes that it is abundant in the winter, but he never could find its nest in the 

 spring. Lord Lilford likewise records it from Spain ; and M. A. von Homeyer remarks that 

 " the Chaffinch found on the Balearic isles is the true Fr. coelebs, not in any way differing from 

 the German bird. On those isles it is resident, and not particularly numerous. In the fruitful 

 valleys of the northern mountain-chain it is to be met with, and affects the olive-groves during 

 the breeding-season." Passing eastward we find it numerous in Italy ; and Count Salvadori 

 writes that " numbers arrive in Sardinia in the autumn and leave again in the spring ; and not a 

 few remain to breed. They are to be met with both on the plains and in the mountains." On 

 Malta, Mr. Wright says, " flocks of Chaffinches arrive in October ; and a good many stay the 

 winter. On the approach of spring they all disappear." And Captain Sperling, writing on the 

 ornithology of the Mediterranean, records it from " Corfu, Santa Maura, Greece, in abundance. 

 In the winter they collect into large flocks, and frequent the plains on the north coast. I never 

 observed them in the summer months." In Greece it is, according to Lindermayer, " very 

 common, from November to March, in the gardens, olive-groves, and fields ; but about the end of 

 the latter month they migrate to the north, a few, however, remaining to breed in the mountains 

 and woods of Northern Greece." Messrs. Elwes and Buckley record it as common in Macedonia ; 

 and Dresser met with it all along the Danube and in Turkey. It is found on the shores of the 

 Black Sea ; but Professor von Nordmann writes that he never observed in Southern Russia such 

 large flocks of the Chaffinch as are seen in the north. He found it breeding on the Adshara 

 mountains. In the forests of the Caucasus and in the forests of Lenkoran it is, according to 

 Menetries, " very common ;" and it is likewise found in Asia Minor and Palestine. In the latter 

 countiy, Canon Tristram writes, it is " very common in winter on the maritime plains and among 



2h2 



