270 PASSERES. FRINGILLA. CHAFFINCH. 
Lewin’s Br. Birds, 2. t. 79.—Walce. Syn. t. 217.—Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 12. . 
Mont. Ornith. Dict. v. 1.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, p. 160.—Low’s Faun. 
Orcad. p. 12.—Shaw’s Zool. 9. p. 442. 65. fig. 1. 
Provincial, Spink, Beechfinch, Pink, Twink, Skelly, Shell- 
Apple, Horsefinch, Scobby. 
This lively bird is very common in all the open and cul- 
tivated parts of the kingdom, and is well known for its early 
song, which, although short, and consisting only of three or 
four notes, is grateful to the ear, from associations connected 
with the period at which it usually commences. All the Bri- 
tish ornithologists describe this species as permanently resi- 
dent with us, and nowhere subject to that separation of the 
sexes, .and the consequent equatorial movement of the fe- 
males, which is known to take place in Sweden and other 
northern countries. 'The fact, however, is otherwise, as the 
experience of a series of years has evinced that these birds, 
in a general point of view, obey the same natural law in the 
north of England. In Northumberland 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 im- 
mense flocks, feeding with other granivorous birds in the 
stubble lands, as long as the weather continues mild, and the 
ground free from snow ; and resorting, upon the approach of 
storm, to farm-yards, and other places of refuge and supply. 
This separation of the sexes, I am induced te believe, takes 
place in many other species, with respect to their migratory 
movements, as I have before remarked in the account of the 
snow-bunting. ‘This appears also to be the case with the 
woodcock, having observed that the first flight of these birds 
(which seldom remains longer than for a few days to recruit, 
and then passes southward), consists chiefly of females ; 
whilst, on the contrary, the subsequent and latest flights 
(which continue with us), are principally composed of males. 
It has been noticed by several authors, that the arrival of the 
