The Chaffinch. 



103 



domesticity, and appear ever on the alert to make their 

 escape from the thraldom of the cage. 



The Chaffinch, which is also named the " Shell-apple," 

 the "Bachelor Bird," and the ''Beech Finch," is a stout, 

 strong bird, about the size of a Robin, but rather fuller 

 in the body. It is 5|in. in length, of which the tail 

 measures 2iin. The bill is ^in. in length, of a dull flesh 

 colour, tipped with dark brown, and, in spring and summer, 

 pale dull blue. At the base of the upper mandible is a 

 narrow black band ; the remainder of the head and collar, 

 or hood, extending to each side of the neck and shoulders, 

 is greyish blue, the top of the head being spotted with 

 reddish-brown. In winter, the head and collar are greenish 

 grey. 



The cheeks and face (extending over each eye), the front 

 part of the neck, throat, breast, sides, and upper part of 

 the belly, are of a reddish nut brown. The eyes are very 

 dark brown, almost black. The lower part of the belly 

 and vent are greyish white, with a little pale brown inter- 

 mixed ; the under tail coverts are pale yellowish brown. 

 The back is of a rich intense chestnut brown, shaded with 

 slate colour and green. The rump and upper tail coverts 

 are Siskin green. 



The larger quill feathers are dark brown, verging on 

 black, the outer margins being bordered with a narrow 

 streak of palish yellow, and the under margins of the 

 smaller, or secondary, pen feathers, with white ; the latter 

 are white from the roots to about one-third of the length 

 of the feathers, these forming narrow stripes across the 

 wings, just beneath the lower wing coverts ; the scapulas 

 are white, showing a beautiful white spot on each shoulder ; 

 the larger coverts are black, tipped with white. The tail 

 is a mixture of black and dark brown ; the two feathers 

 on the exterior side of the quills have broad white margins, 

 half their length. The two central feathers are much 

 paler than the remainder, and are of a pale greenish slate 

 colour throughout. These birds vary in colour according to 

 age ; the description given is from a bird about a year 

 old, taken in the spring. Older birds are a little more 

 brilliant in plumage, but the one selected is a very fair 

 average specimen. 



