THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



199 



Flight* — The flight is rather quick and undulating. This species has 

 also the habit, in common with other small birds, of darting into the air 

 after a passing insect. 



Migration- — The Chaffinch may be found in this country throughout the 

 fear, but in the autumn large flocks, composed principally of females and 

 voung birds, arrive upon the east coast. These probably come from the 

 North of Europe, and depart again the following spring. In many districts 

 the sexes seem to separate in winter — hence the specific name — and flocks 

 may be noticed composed almost entirely of one sex. 



Food* — In winter the Chaffinch subsists largely upon small seeds, for 

 svhich purpose they visit farm steads, stack yards, and stubble fields. In 

 spring they resort to the newly-sown seed beds and pick up the uncovered 

 seeds, especially those of turnip. They are also fond of young tender plants, 

 ind nip them off as soon as they show above ground. In summer, when the 

 foung are being fed, insects are used for that purpose. 



In Confinement the Chaffinch is a merry bird, is easily kept in a cage 

 Dr aviary, and will eat small seeds of almost any kind. 



Habitat- — This is a common bird in all parts of Britain, and breeds 

 3very where except in the extreme northern and western islands of Scotland. 



Abroad it is common in most parts of Europe, into the Arctic Circle. It 

 breeds in all the middle countries, North Eussia and Siberia. It is a winter 

 visitor to Palestine, Egypt, and North Africa, but is rare south of the 

 Mediterranean. 



Nest* —The nest of this species is one of the most beautiful of any of our 

 British birds. It is placed in the fork of a tree, against a tree side among 

 ?mall branches, in a fruit tree, or in a hedge row. It is round, compact, and 

 composed of bits of dry grass, shreds of the inner bark of trees and moss. 

 Dob webs are also largely used in its construction, and bits of lichen are stuck 

 apon them on the outside. Inside it is lined with horse-hair. It is rather 

 deep and very well put together. 



Eggs. — Eive is the usual number. They are greenish blue, shaded and 

 dappled with reddish-brown, and purple spots and blotches. Sometimes the 

 markings entirely cover the ground colour. 



Varieties.— -There i3 a variety not unfrequently met with of an uniform 

 pale greenish-blue. Mr. Whittaker has a curiously shaped egg in his collec- 

 tion very long and narrow, and another very minute in size, being less than 

 that of the Gold Crest. They were, I believe, both taken by his son — Mr. 

 Joseph E. Whittaker, in the grounds at Eainworth Lodge. 



