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British Cage Birds. 



After the moulting season the colours become paler, the 

 black spot on the forehead changing to dark brown, the 

 upper part of the head and neck to greyish green, and 

 the breast, cheeks, and throat becoming considerably lighter 

 in colour. Occasionally a bird is found with variegated 

 colours, but specimens of this kind are rare and curious. 



The ChaflSnch has three changes of plumage before it 

 dons its adult costume. The first is the nest suit, as a 

 brancher ; next it moults, and puts on its autumn and 

 winter garb ; and in the spring it again partly moults, and 

 assumes its most elegant and perfect attire. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Chaffinch is migratory in its 

 habits, but, as a rule, only the early hatched and the hen 

 birds migrate, as is the case with some of the other varieties 

 of the Finch family. These birds migrate in the months of 

 October and November, although they usually assemble about 

 the middle of August, and go in flocks in search of food ; 

 they visit stubble fields, farmyards, and gardens principally. 

 Those that are reared and moult late, as well as a great 

 many of the old birds, remain and rough it in this country. 



The cocks separate themselves from the hens entirely after 

 the moulting season, and keep together throughout the winter 

 months. Most of the birds that cross the sea are believed 

 to go to Spain and Africa. They return again in March, 

 some being observed in the early part of that month, the 

 others following at short intervals. They arrive in batches 

 of about twenty or thirty birds to a flight, and distribute 

 themselves pretty generally all over our Island. The males 

 precede the females, and arrive about fourteen days in 

 advance. 



They begin to breed in April — about the latter part of the 

 month — and have young ones early in May. Their favourite 

 spot is a tree. If they build their nest in an orchard or 

 garden, they will choose an apple or pear tree, but they 

 are not over particular in this respect, and build in any 

 tree which appears to afford them the greatest protection 

 from the gaze of the curious. They almost invariably 

 select a side branch on which to erect their nest, and 

 frequently choose a fork formed by two branches shooting 

 from the same stem, at an acute angle, or on a branch 

 or clump where four or five twigs shoot in different direc- 



