fpring it devours an immenfe number of caterpillars, feeding 

 the young with them and other fmall infects till they are able 

 to provide for themfelves ; and thus, perhaps, fully com- 

 penfate for the injury committed at other feafons. 



The neft of this fpecies is worthy of our admiration as a 

 mafler-piece of elegance and neatnefs ; in choice of the ma- 

 terials, it is guided by an inftinct wifely bellowed by its all- 

 bountiful Creator, that points out fuch as may tend to its 

 greater fecurity : thus when the neft is placed in the fork of 

 a branch, or againft the fide of a mofs-grown tree, the exterior 

 of this comfortable little manfion is thickly ftudded with mofs 

 and lichens of a correfponding colour ; when it is built in an 

 ivy-bufh, it is compofed of green mofs, which affimilating 

 in colour with the furrounding objects, renders it more fecure 

 by being lefs liable to obfervation. The fabric is compofed 

 of mofs, wool, and hair, interwoven with feathers, the foft 

 parts of which are left projecting from the fide as a lining. 



It lays five or fix eggs of a pale purplifh blufh colour, 

 beautifully freckled and ftreaked with dark purple ; the eggs 

 are not all marked alike, fome being nearly covered with the 

 dark colour, whilft others have only a few ftreaks fparingly 

 diftributed at the larger end. The young keep together till 

 after the fir ft moult, before which time they are all feathered 

 like the female. 



Chaffinches remain with us throughout the year ; but in 

 fome other parts of Europe the fexes feparate ; the females 

 at the decline of the year repair fouthward, but the males 

 being more robuft, brave the inclemency of the northern 



winters. 



