The Chaffinch. 



tations is charged with these offences, of which many of them 

 are innocent. During hard winters the chaffinch is found 

 frequently in the company of the house sparrow and the 

 green linnet, many of whose depredations are attributed to 

 the former. The sparrow and green linnet are known to 

 peck radishes and lettuces, and to pick off the leaves of many 

 early spring plants, so that their mischief may easily be 

 attributed to the chaffinch, which congregates with them in 

 the winter months. 



This bird is naturally inclined to a seed and insect diet, and 

 when radishes and other garden crops are above ground 

 and lettuces planted out, there is a considerable amount 

 •of insect food obtainable. During the winter the chaffinch's 

 natural food consists of the seeds of all kinds of plants 

 and weeds, and grain, if it comes in its way. It is 

 •often seen in hard winters in poultry yards, picking up tail 

 corn, meal, and other chicken's food; in farmyards, in stack- 

 3'ards, and on dung heaps, in company with other birds. 

 In the late autumn, and when the weather is open in winter, 

 it is found hunting in corn stubbles for fallen corn, and in 

 stubbles and other fields for the seeds of charlock, wild 

 mustard, groundsel, chickw^eed, knot grass, buttercups, 

 and other weeds troublesome to cultivators. 



If this bird does feed on radishes and lettuces when there is 

 a dearth of its normal food, it is easy to protect the plants with 

 guards of wire netting until insects are plentiful and nesting 

 commences, which takes place early in the season, and at that 

 time insects form its principal food. These guards would 

 also keep off the sparrows, w^hich are well known to attack 

 the young succulent vegetables. The charge of picking out 

 fruit buds is not proved. The chaffinch has doubtless been 

 seen pecking- at the opened blossoms of fruit trees, and causing 

 the petals to fall ; but this is for the purpose of getting at 

 caterpillars, such as those of the winter moth, and not from 

 •wanton mischief, as its detractors imagine. 



Many fruit growers, and all who are careful observers, 

 regard the chaffinch as one of their best friends ; and as it is 

 especially fond of building its nest in an apple tree, while 

 there are as a rule two generations, the quantity of insect 



