CHAPTER XXXIII. 



Aves {Birds). 

 Continued. 



We well remember the wondering delight with which, in 

 childish days, we gazed on a Chaffinch's nest. An elder 

 companion had found it in the fork of an oak, and climb- 

 ing up to the place, he drew aside the leafy twigs and re- 

 vealed the beautiful little dwelling to our eager eyes. The 

 particular construction of that particular one, we cannot, 

 of course, pretend to describe, for it is a great many years 

 ago, and the note-book was not then so familiar to our 

 hand as it has been since, but a vivid impression of the 

 general appearance remains. Indeed, the spruce, smart 

 little Chaffy builds one of the prettiest of British nests; 

 the Goldfinch's is somewhat more compact, and, being 

 composed more of one substance, is neater, but we scarcely 

 know whether we do not more admire the Chaffinch's. Of 

 course you have seen both; Chafiy's certainly, because it 

 is so common and so easily found. 



What a beautiful cup of interwoven moss it is ! — at 

 least the frame-work, the exterior ! The pretty feather- 

 moss (Hypnuni) is chosen for this, because it grows in long 

 strings, and binds well together; but this is only the outer 



