4 
NATURE NOTES. 
boxes nailed to the walls. A pair of cole tits, too, some years 
ago made their nest in one of these tit boxes, and this summer 
one of them was occupied by hornets. 
In the winter before last a certain hen blackbird for a long 
time acted as a veritable tyrant to the smaller birds. She would 
allow no other bird on the table with her, if she could help it, 
and, as her appetite was a very large one, she spent a good deal 
of time there. Even when she could eat no longer, she would 
remain either on the table, or else take up her position on 
a box tree close by, from which she would make a rush at 
any small bird which attempted to alight on the table. The 
little blue and marsh tits, however, were sometimes too quick 
for her, and would alight, seize a morsel from under her very 
beak, and be off with it almost before she was aware of their 
presence. 
Greenfinches last winter were frequent visitors, their dull 
heavy manner and gait contrasting strangely with the sprightly 
actions of the robins and tits. For some time previously the\' 
had frequented some sweet-briar bushes in the garden for the 
sake of their berries, the seeds of which are a favourite food of 
this bird, the pulp bein^ rejected. Three or four greenfinches 
would sit round'the seed jar, squabbling among themselves and 
threatening any other bird which tried to get near it. With 
their big powerful beaks held half open, they looked so savage 
and formidable, that most other small birds were wont to keep 
at a respectful distance. 
There are, of course, always a few chaffinches attending at 
feeding time, and general!}^ more cocks than hens. When seen 
associating with a company of plebeian sparrows, one cannot 
help noticing the refined high-bred look of this charming bird, 
apart from its beautiful colouring ; it is, as a horsey man would 
say, “full of quality.” Not only in build, but in gait also, he 
differs entirely from the house sparrow. On the ground, instead 
of the upright carriage and jerk}’ hop of that bird, the chaffinch 
seems to slip or glide easily along with little e.xertion, and with 
the bod}’ close to the ground. He also keeps one foot always a 
little in advance of the other, as a horse does in cantering ; nor 
do the legs move, I think, exactly simultaneously, though the 
action comes nearer perhaps to a hop than a walk or run. 
Though the plumage of the cock contains no pure or primary 
colours, yet so pleasingly are the various tints arranged and 
contrasted, that the result is particularly beautiful ; the bar of 
pure white in the wing, more or less doubled, and crossing the 
darkest part of the whole plumage, gives a sparkling brilliance 
to the whole. As the winter wears on, and other signs of 
approaching spring begin to appear, the colours of the chaffinch 
wax brighter and brighter, till, at the end of February or the 
beginning of March, he has attained his full beauty. 
And here, perhaps, a word for the hen may be permitted. 
Though, of course, far less brightly clad than her mate, she is. 
