CHAFFINCH. 



The male birds frequently maintain obstinate 

 combats, and fight till one of them is vanquished. 



The Chaffinch's nest is curious from the work- 

 manlike manner in which it is constructed. The 

 exterior framework of this pretty nest is composed 

 of materials which vary considerably according to 

 the opportunities the birds have of procuring them. 

 Some are formed of the finer sort of green moss 

 from trees, small grey or yellow lichens ; in others 

 the nest-webs of spiders, or small tufts of cotton- 

 wool, are stuck over the outside. But the indis- 

 pensable substance of all these nests is fine wool, 

 with which the other materials are carefully and 

 neatly felted into a texture of wonderful uniformity. 

 In many cases it has been found that greater 

 strength is given to the fabric by binding the whole 

 round with dry grass-stems, or with slender roots, 

 which are partly covered by the staple felt-work of 

 moss and wool. The nest is always bound firmly 

 into the forks of the bush, where it is placed by 

 twining bands of moss, felted with wool, round all 

 the contiguous branches. The softness of the in- 

 terior is secured by a lining of hair, smoothly woven, 

 and a few feathers. The trees and bushes most 

 commonly selected by the Chaffinch for her nest 

 are the elm, oak, crab-tree, hawthorn, silver fir, 

 elder, &c* 



The Chaffinch appears to attract a considerable 

 degree of attention in Germany, and to be a great 

 favourite there. 



* Architecture of Birds. 



