Family FRINGILLIDiE. Subfamily FRINGILLINi?; 



THE GREENFINCH. 

 Ligurinus chloris (Linnaeus). 

 Plate i 5. 



This is a common and abundant species in almost every part of the British 

 Islands, and is also widely distributed in Europe. 



The nest, usually begun in April, is situated in a hedge or thick bush, and is 

 composed of roots, twigs, green moss, and wool, with a lining of finer materials 

 of the same kind, feathers, and hair. The five or six eggs are a delicate greenish- 

 white in ground colour, spotted and marked with rusty-brown and purplish-grey. 



The song of the Greenfinch is rather poor and feeble, but to some ears is not 

 unpleasing ; it is sometimes delivered while the bird is on the wing. It has also a 

 curious prolonged call-note. 



This is a useful bird in the garden, destroying a great number of caterpillars 

 and harmful insects, and during the winter months it feeds on seeds and berries 

 of various kinds. 



Its favourite summer haunts are gardens and shrubberies, whilst in autumn 

 and winter it collects in flocks about the fields and farm steadings. 

 In colour the female is much duller than the male. 



lOI 



