136 FBINGILLID^:. 



says Mr. Hepburn, " Greenfinches subsist largely upon in- 

 sects and their larvae, as well as upon the downy seeds of the 

 groundsel and dandelion, alighting adroitly upon the stems, 

 bearing them to the earth, and feasting at their leisure. Tur- 

 nip seed, and the seeds of chickweed, charlocks, and various 

 grasses, also enter into their bill of fare, till the crops of 

 wheat and oats begin to ripen, when they occasionally do 

 some damage along the borders of the fields, but when the 

 grain is cut and carried away, they search the stubbles in 

 large flocks, which are fully as animated and as amusing in 

 their habits as those of the grey linnet. Green linnets may 

 be daily seen in our yards all the year round, though of 

 course they are most abundant during the inclement months 

 of winter, when they pilfer the exposed ears of corn from the 

 sides of the stacks and search the cattle-yards, and by the 

 barn door." 



The intelligence which many small birds display in their 

 intercourse with mankind, is very interesting and surprising. 

 " In the spring of 1824, says a friend, (the Rev. E. J. 

 Moor,) " a pair of green linnets built in the ivy porch of 

 Boulge Cottage. I was one clay watching the nest Avhen the 

 young ones were about half grown. While I was there the 

 old one came with some food, and perched close to the nest ; 

 the young ones immediately set up a great chirping. Hither- 

 to I had been quite concealed from the old bird ; but the 

 wind moving the ivy leaves, her eye and mine met, and the 

 same moment she uttered a quick note, which was scarcely 

 uttered before all the chirping instantly ceased — the young 

 ones perfectly understanding the signal. 11 



A parallel instance of the watchful care of a pair of Green- 

 finches for the safety of their young ones, came under our 

 own observation. One day several little nestlings were 

 caught in a field adjoining the garden ; they were scarcely 

 fledged, and could not fly ; we put them in a small cage, 



