CHAFFINCH. 83 



of passage, though there are always some that remain the 

 winter with us. The time of passage in autumn continues 

 from the beginning of October to the middle of November, 

 and in spring during the month of March. They perform 

 their journey in large flocks. In the spring the males arrive 

 in separate flights, fifteen days before the females : our bird- 

 catchers know this so well, that as soon as they perceive these 

 (that is the females), they put up their implements, their 

 sport being then over." 



In the middle and southern parts of England, flocks of 

 this species, consisting almost entirely of hens, or young birds, 

 have been frequently observed ; respecting which, we have the 

 testimony of White, of Selborne, who says in his thirteenth 

 letter, " For many years past, I have observed that towards 

 Christmas, vast flocks of Chaffinches have appeared in the 

 fields — many more, I used to think, than could have been 

 hatched in any one neighbourhood. But when I came to 

 observe them more narrowly, I was amazed to find that they 

 seemed to me to be almost all hens." This extraordinary oc- 

 currence brought to my mind the remark of Linnseus, that 

 " before winter, all their hen Chaffinches migrate through 

 Holland into Italy." 



The same has been observed by the Rev. L. Jenyns, in a 

 note to his edition of White's Selborne, who says that he 

 has seen in the north of Ireland very large flocks in which 

 there were no males, which he concludes have migrated from 

 more northern latitudes, and there left their mates behind 

 them. 



We have also ourselves noticed frequently, in winter, large 

 congregations in various parts of Surrey, consisting chiefly 

 of hen birds, and in much greater number than at any other 

 period of the year. 



In the letter of Gilbert White, above quoted, he continues : 

 " Now I want to know from some curious person in the north, 



G 2 



