winter the upper mandible becomes quite dusky; irides 
dark hazel; legs dark brown, slender; tail forked. The 
female is paler coloured, having a considerable dash of ash 
colour intermixed with the rufous, and the black feathers 
are not so dark as in the male ; the female rather exceeds in 
size. 
In the winter this species is met with in large flocks, small 
parties are also occasionally seen associating with Chaf- 
finches, Sparrows, and other small birds, resorting to farm- 
yards, corn-stacks, and heaps of manure. They are taken 
in considerable numbers by the bird-catchers in the vicinity 
of London, during the months of October, November, and 
December. The species is not common in many parts of 
of this kingdom. 
The Bramble-finch in habits very nearly resembles 
the Chaffinch, is easily tamed, and feeds on most kinds of 
seeds. One we kept in a cage for some years became so 
tame as to feed from the hand; its note is a harsh scream, 
which it repeats two or three times, and then remains silent 
for a considerable length of time. 
It is said to breed in the Northern parts of Europe, but 
we are unacquainted with the nest and eggs. 
