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Goldfinch (Papes 12 and 13). — The goldfinch is another of our 
British birds which has had to pay dearly for being so handsomely 
dressed. The bird-catcher plays havoc amongst the flocks which 
band together after the nesting-season is over. 
Having a rich brown body, red face, white cheeks with black head, 
neck, tail and wings — the latter being banded with yellow — it never 
fails to attract attention. 
The young birds in their first plumage (known as grey-pates) lack 
the rich colouring of the older birds. 
Odd pairs are to be met with breeding throughout the country, 
although it cannot be said to be common anywhere except in the 
remotest parts of Ireland. The nest, which is very similar in 
appearance to that of the chaffinch, although much shallower, is 
built of roots, covered with lichen and lined with wool or down. 
Fruit-trees and gardens are the most favoured sites for these 
exquisite little nests, also the extreme ends of long lower branches of 
beech or sycamore-trees. Four or five eggs form the clutch, having 
a very pale green ground, sparingly speckled and streaked with 
reddish-brown at the larger end. 
Heron (Pages 33 and 39). — The heron is not by any means a rare 
bird, although it is nowhere common except in the immediate vicinity 
of a heronry, where large numbers collect to breed. The head, back 
and wings are of a slate-blue colour, the former and latter being edged 
with black in addition to the shprt tail. The throat and breast are 
white. The fully-matured bird is adorned on the breast with long white 
plumes tipped with black, which contrast well with its long yellow beak 
and legs. Gamekeepers and water bailiffs alike condemn the heron 
as one of the biggest poachers they have to contend with, yet on the 
other hand it is of great service to both. It kills (and swallows 
whole) quite as many rats as it does fish and young ducks. In 
stalking its prey, the heron stands absolutely rigid in the shallow 
water, on the alert for anything moving, its neck bent ready to 
transfix its victim with one deadly stab of its powerful beak. 
Frogs, newts, eels, snails, worms, rats, mice and young birds, are ail 
equally acceptable, although eels appear to be its favourite food. 
The nests vary in size, some being no larger than a rook's, while 
others are considerably larger and have a high wind-screen on one 
side. They are built at the extreme tops of trees, very often in a fir 
of some kind in a lonely plantation on the hills of some quiet private 
estate. Four bluish-green eggs are laid, often very early in the 
season, even in January in some cases; or on the other hand, as late 
as June. It is probable that two broods are reared. After the 
breeding-season is over the birds wander about singly from place to 
place in search of food. 
Jackdaw (Page 23). — This familiar bird is very common and 
widely distributed. Its choice of a breeding-site is so varied that it 
is found breeding almost everywhere. In appearance it is very 
similar to its nearest relation — the rook — but is smaller and the 
adult bird has a patch of grey on the back of its head which the 
rook lacks. 
During winter jackdaws and rooks congregate together to feed in 
the fields and along the shores, but when spring comes round again 
they separate into pairs and return to their favourite nesting-sites. 
