BRAMBLE FINCH. 



445 



lesser wing-coverts pale reddish brown, edged 

 with white ; greater coverts black, tipped with 

 pale yellow : quills dusky, edged with pale yel- 

 lowish : tail forked ; the outermost feathers edged 

 with white, the rest black, with whitish edges : 

 legs pale brcwn : female less brilliant in colour 

 than the male : in her the sides of the head and 

 back of the neck are grey ; on the latter are two 

 dusky lines passing from the head downwards : 

 the top of the head and back are dusky, each 

 feather deeply margined with grey, giving. those 

 parts a beautiful mottled appearance : the rufous 

 colour on the breast and wings is very faint, but 

 the markings are similar to those of the male. 



This species is subject to the following varia- 

 tion, having been found with a black streak over 

 each eye, reaching towards the hind head, and join- 

 ing each other : with two bars on the wing-coverts, 

 the upper one reddish white, and the lower ferru- 

 ginous : throat and breast tawny: belly and rump 

 white. 



It is common in many parts of Europe, but 

 most probably breeds only in the northern parts : 

 it is said to build a nest in lofty fir trees, composed 

 of long moss, and lined with hair, wool, and fea- 

 thers : the female lays four or five white eggs, 

 speckled with yellow : it is frequently found 

 among Chaf-finches, in immense flocks : BufFon 

 says it has been found in France in such numbers 

 that the ground has been quite covered with 

 their dung, and that upwards of six hundred dozen 



