Genus FRINGILLA. 
Gen. Cuar. Bill concave, longer than deep, straight, and pointed ; cutting edges entire, and 
forming a straight commissure. Nostri/s basal, lateral, oval, partly hidden by the frontal 
plumes. az slightly forked. Legs having the tarsi of mean length, with the toes divided 
and adapted for hopping or perching. C/aws sharp. 
CHAFFINCH. 
Piette Gealalin gone 
Le Gros-bec pinson. 
Tuts ornamental Finch is so well known to all persons whose attention has been directed to the habits of our 
native birds, that we doubt whether we can offer any novelty relative to its history. It appears to be very © 
generally distributed over every portion of Europe, in most parts of which it is stationary. ‘<All the 
ornithologists,” says Mr. Selby, ‘‘ describe this species as permanently resident with us, and nowhere subject 
to that separation of the sexes, and the consequent equatorial movement of the females, 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 No- 
vember, 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 immense 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.” 
The remarks which we have quoted from Mr. Selby will apply to the habits and manners of this bird in the 
South of England. We have observed that during autumn and the early parts of spring our gardens and 
orchards are comparatively deserted by this handsome bird, and that it must then be sought for in. the wide 
fields and hedge-rows, far removed from our immediate precincts. It pairs early in the spring, and again 
returns to enliven our gardens and orchards by its simple song and sprightly actions, when the work of nidi- 
fication is soon commenced. ‘The nest is of the neatest construction, being outwardly composed of the most 
delicate lichens, (generally obtained from the apple-tree,) interwoven with wool, and lined with feathers and 
fine hair ; it is placed in various situations, such as the branch of an apple-tree, the whitethorn, or any other 
shrub or tree whose foliage affords it a sufficient shelter to protect the eggs, which are four or five in number, 
of a pinky white spotted with reddish purple. | 
The food of the Chaffinch is of a mixed nature, feeding in winter on grains and seeds, and in summer on 
most species of insects and their larve, which it devours with avidity. 
The sexes, as is the case with most of the true Finches, offer a contrasted difference in their colouring ; 
neither can the beautiful spring plumage remain unobserved, when compared with the sober livery of winter. 
The male in spring has the bill of a fine blue grey ; the crown of the head and nape rich grey; the centre 
of the back chestnut ; rump greenish yellow ; lesser wing-coverts white ; quills black, edged with yellowish 
white ; two middle tail-feathers grey, tinged with olive; three next, on each side, entirely black ; the outer 
ones with a large white spot on their inner webs ; the cheeks, neck, throat, and under surface chestnut brown ; 
lower part of the belly and vent white ; legs and feet brown. In the female the whole of the upper surface 
is olive brown, becoming richer on the upper tail-coverts ; cheeks, throat, and under surface greyish brown ; 
vent and under tail-coverts white; the wings and tail as in the male, but the white marks less distinct. 
The young males in autumn resemble the females. 
Our Plate represents the birds in their spring plumage, although we must acknowledge our inability to do 
Justice to the rich and harmonious tints which pervade the feathers of the living bird, and which afford so much 
attraction and ornament to our lawns and shrubberies. 
