io6 



British Caere Birds. 



agile to climb a tree. The nest of these birds, although 

 carefully secluded from the gaze of a casual observer, is not 

 altogether beyond the reach of the vigilant and watchful bird- 

 catcher, especially if he be acquainted with the habits and 

 dispositions of the birds. Chaffinches are cute and jealous, 

 and, during the breeding season, rarely go far away from the 

 locality of their nesting place. Hence, it is only necessary 

 to find out their usual haunts, which can be done by 

 perambulating the lanes, fields, and woods in the neighbour- 

 hood which they have been seen to frequent, and, by the 

 aid of a field glass, the chosen watch tower of the male 

 bird may be discovered ; but as he is, during this period of 

 his existence, almost constantly uttering, in sharp, clear 

 tones, his call note of " Fink, fink," he may be traced by 

 this sign alone, for the nearer the seeker approaches the 

 tree or bush in which the nest is built, the more excited 

 will the bird become — that is, providing that he and his 

 partner have entered upon the responsibilities of wedded 

 life ; but if they are merely in search of a nesting-place, 

 they will fly away some distance, to return when the cause 

 of alarm has subsided. When a nest and its occupants 

 have been removed, the parents select some other spot in 

 which to attempt to rear a second brood, taking care to choose 

 a place some distance away, and one which promises more 

 security. 



Chaffinches can be taken by means of a decoy, and may be 

 allured into the ordinary trap cage in the autumn and 

 winter months. A great many of these birds are captured 

 during March, when returning from their chosen exile. Open 

 spaces are selected, the ground for several yards round is 

 strewn liberally with canary or rape seed, groats or hemp- 

 seed, and limed twigs or the day net employed as the means 

 of capture. 



Some fowlers use decoy birds, either placed in cages, or 

 braced and secured to a hedge or bush, and well surrounded 

 by limed twigs. These birds frequent any place where there 

 is an abundance of trees, within an easy reach of stubble or 

 ploughed fields, and the best time to ensnare them is the 

 early morning, before they leave their haunts in search of 

 food. Chaffinches should not be taken during the breeding 

 season, for, if they have paired, and are taken away from 



