GREENFINCH. 185 



The eggs of the Greenfinch vary much in different nests, 

 in size, form, and colour. Some approach very nearly in 

 appearance to those of the linnet, but are larger in size ; 

 some resemble chaffinches' eggs in their markings and the 

 roundness of their form, while others are long and pointed. 

 The ground colour is greenish, bluish, or greyish-white ; the 

 spots are usually reddish-] ilac and rufous brown, mostly dis- 

 posed around the larger end ; sometimes, however, the whole 

 egg is mottled over, as in the upper figure in our plate. 



The geographical distribution of the Greenfinch is exten- 

 sive, being found from the western parts of Europe to the 

 eastern confines of Asia ; cultivated or sylvan districts being 

 probably preferred throughout this vast extent, such being- 

 observed to be its peculiar choice in this country. In lati- 

 tudinal extent it is found from Sweden and Norway as far 

 south as the Mediterranean and its islands, including Crete, 

 where, according to Mr. Drummond, it is very common. 

 Whether this bird is stationary throughout the year in the 

 more northern parts mentioned, we are not well informed, 

 but are inclined to think not, at least not to the same extent 

 as it is well known that in several countries situate more to 

 the south there is a considerable accession to the numbers of 

 this species in winter. In Shetland we learn from T. Ed- 

 monston, Esq. that the Greenfinch is a winter visitor only, in 

 common with the snow bunting, the goldfinch, the linnet, &c. 

 which implies that it leaves some more northern part at that 

 season for the comparatively less unfriendly climate of that 

 island. A southern movement seems also to take place with 

 this species still further, since it is mentioned by M. Julien 

 Deby that in Belgium Greenfinches flock in winter, but leave 

 that country when the season is uncommonly cold. In Eng- 

 land the changes of locality that take place among Green- 

 finches appear more impelled by scarcity of food than to be 

 the effect of temperature, " During the summer months,''' 



