CHAPTER IX. 



The chaffinch. 



Fringilla coelehs, Lin. ; Pinson, Buf. 



Desceiption and Chaeactee. — The Chaffinch, which is 

 well-known in most European countries, is one of the 

 very hardiest members of the Finch family. Although 

 not considered so handsome in appearance as either the 

 Goldfinch or Bullfinch, the male is by no means a despicable 

 bird to look upon, and is considered by many of his admirers 

 a very pretty fellow indeed, and is much prized on account 

 of his vivacious disposition and song. The Chaffinch has a 

 loud, musical voice, and may be heard at a considerable 

 distance uttering his well-known cry, " Fink, Fink," or, as 

 some people term it, "Pink, Pink," which he repeats a 

 great number of times. 



The male bird commences to sing in the spring, and 

 continues throughout the breeding season. He is not so 

 tractable and docile as some of his congeners, such as 

 the Greenfinch and Bullfinch, and has frequently to be 

 kept caged a long time before he becomes sufficiently 

 tame and domesticated to delight his possessor with his 

 merry song. 



In consequence of this drawback, the Chaffinch is not so 

 universally esteemed in this country as many of the other 

 varieties of Finches, some of which are of a genial, and 

 even affectionate, nature. When once, however, he becomes 

 thoroughly naturalized, he sings freely enough ; but old 

 birds, caught out of doors, are difficult to reconcile to 



