2 
CHAFFINCH. 
once to sleep; while the Chaffinches, though tired, seemed of an inquiring disposition, and pecked about all 
over the deck, only fluttering a few feet when any of the crew passed near them. One poor little bird, 
evidently much distressed by its journey, after being a passenger for at least twenty miles, left us as we were 
entering the harbour, and fluttered on hoard a fishing-boat just going out. Here he perched himself in a 
basket hanging over the stern and was carried to sea again. All the Chaffinches that came on hoard during 
the day were, without exception, males. In the flocks passing the steam-boat I did not recognize any females; 
in many instanses, however, they were too far off to be clearly examined. 
During rough and stormy weather, and, indeed, immediately before a gale, few, if any, small birds are rash 
enough to attempt to cross. The 10th and 11th of October proved squally with drifting rain from the south- 
west ; and on those days no Chaffinches or Larks were observed on the passage. On the 14th of October, 
weather still and hazy, the whole of the birds of passage were making good way ; and though large numbers 
of Hooks, Starlings, Larks, Chaffinches, and Tree-Sparrows were continually passing the vessel while about ten 
miles outside the Cross Sands, the only visitors that boarded us were two or three Tree-Sparrows, who took 
their departure after a short rest. The males were apparently most numerous in the flocks of Chaffinches, 
though I clearly recognized one or two small parties entirely composed of females. 
On several days between the 2 1st of October and the 9th of November, I was out at sea in company with 
the herring-fleet; but not a single Chaffinch was seen crossing, the only birds of passage observed being 
llooks, Grey Crows, Starlings, Larks, Snow-Buntings, and Peewits. On Monday the lltli a most disastrous 
gale of wind set in, with terrific squalls from north-north-cast. After continuing blowing all the week from 
east, south-east, and east-south-east, the wind dropped on the 18th, and on the 20th we were again enabled 
to steam round the Cross Sands. At the invitation of the master, I went on board the ‘ Newarp ’ floating light, 
and learned they had not yet spoken any vessel since the gale, which they had ridden out with 1G0 fathoms of 
cable ; and though, naturally, having experienced rough times, every thing, as usual on all the Trinity ships, was 
in the greatest possible order and brightness. I found on board the only birds that had struck the lights or 
settled on deck during the storm. These were two Stormy Petrels, one male Siskin, one Tree-Sparrow, one 
female Blackbird, and one male Chaffinch. This appears a late date for this species to be still crossing ; I did 
not hear of any others till the following spring. 
On March 27th, 1873, a fine bright morning, light easterly breeze, I was out on Ilickling Broad in the 
east of Norfolk, and noticed soon after daybreak immense flocks of Starlings flying east, also several parties of 
male Chaffinches. These Finches were apparently all bound due east, and passed over without halting ; as far as 
I could judge there was not a female among their numbers. Meadow-Pipits were also taking up their quarters 
round the broad after a winter’s absence from the district. A few days later (April 7) I received from the 
‘Lynn Well ’ light-ship the wings of a few Chaffinches, also several Starlings, and one Meadow-Pipit. This 
would go to prove that some at least of the flocks observed on the Norfolk coast had continued their journev 
across the North Sea. After an interval of a few weeks, wings were again sent from the same vessel ; and these 
plainly indicated that Chaffinches had passed over till the end of April. These birds, I was informed, were all 
red-breasted, and consequently males. 
In the spring of 1875 a large mixed flock of Bramblings, Chaffinches, and Tree-Sparrows resorted for 
several weeks to some arable ground on the downs near Falmer in Sussex. I remarked that the Chaffinches 
were both males and females, and, as near as I could judge, in about equal numbers. 
During the severe gale and protracted frost on the coast of Sussex in January 1SS1, Chaffinches, like 
other small birds, suffered excessively. The frozen victims that came under my notice were of both sexes. 
Passing on several occasions along the sea-wall from Shoreham to Lancing during November and 
December 1882, and in January 1883, I repeatedly disturbed large flocks of small birds that resorted for food 
to the various seed-producing weeds and plants growing on the shingle-banks. Greenfinches, Linnets, Twites, 
