that grain enters liberally into its dietary. Like the sparrow 
it has learned the art of disinterring seed-corn from the ground. 
Occasionally, too, it does much damage to seedling turnips, 
while the gardener complains of its ravages in his radish beds, 
and its fondness for pulling polyanthuses to pieces. On the 
whole, however, it probably does much more good than harm. 
Large flocks of Chaffinches are often seen on the move in 
autumn and winter, and it is a curious fact that these consist, 
as a rule, either of males or females, the two sexes losing all 
attraction for one another after the nesting season is 
over. Hence their scientific title of Fringilla celebs, the 
“bachelor finch.” Quite early in spring, however, they 
pair, and shortly afterwards turn 
their attention to building, an 
art in which they are highly 
proficient. There is 
scarcely any other British 
bird which builds so beau- 
tiful a nest as that of the 
Chaffinch. Cup-like in 
shape, and 
& 2, Placed in 
Ti EBS: "athe fork of 
we “SS. gas ; 
SA ‘Mh F7 aa tl Lees 
a Mass a branch 
or among 
the twigs 
