66 
of this species, from which it derives its scientific name of “ Bachelor- 
Finch,” is that shown in the winter months, when the males and 
females separate, gathering at that season in flocks, each 
flock composed solely of the one sex. The Chaffinch is a seed- 
eater, but during the breeding season becomes largely insectivorous, 
feeding its young on caterpillars, flies, and grubs. The nest of 
the Chaffinch is exquisitely constructed of moss and lichen, and 
cosily lined with hair and feathers, and it is not at all uncommon 
to find worked into the outside small bits of newspaper, oft-times 
the relic of a paper chase. The nestj often built in the lichen- 
covered fork of an apple tree, assimilates so closely to its sur- 
roundings, as often to be difficult of discovery. The eggs are usually 
four in number, greenish in ground-colour, and streaked and marled 
with brown and black. 
Curlew, Common — The Curlew, known in Scotland as the 
“ Whaup,” belongs to the wading family, and during the winter 
mouths frequents sea-shore and river-bank. In spring it seeks the 
uplands to nest, and there on hill-side or open moor, it builds its nest 
upon the ground, without cover, trusting solely to the unfrequented 
'latiire of the ground, and the protective colour of its eggs, to escape 
observation. The eggs, four in number and large for the size of the 
bird, are olive-green in ground-colour, spotted with brown. The 
Curlew’s cry, from which its name is derived, is an eerie and some- 
what melancholy whistling sound, especially when heard at night on 
the lonely moor, and no doubt has given rise to the belief, which 
prevails among many country folks, that the bird is uncanny. In 
our outer isles this belief is strong, and one daring stranger who once 
dined off this bird was long pointed at, almost with terror, as the 
“ man that ate the whaup.” The Curlew is grey in colour, streaked 
with black. Like the rest of the wading family it is possessed of 
long legs and bill, the latter slightly curved. The bill, indeed, 
appears altogether out of proportion to the size of the bird, and it is 
wonderful to note the dexterous way in which it will .snatch even a 
tiny fly from off a blade of grass, with this unwieldy instrument, which 
is perhaps of more service to it in probing the muddy bank on river- 
side or shore. 
Spotted Flycatcher — This “most familiar bird,” lo lovingly 
written of by Gilbert White, is widely distributed and not uncommon. 
It is a summer migrant, and may be identified by its persistent h.abit 
of perching on the top of some favourite post, from which it ever and 
again flits out to hawk at a passing in.sect, returning to the post only 
to repeat its flight after a short interval. Save for this habit it is so 
unobtrusive as to attract but little notice ; its lack of song and 
inconspicuous colouring allowing it to pass unnoticed in many cases. 
'I he nest is placed in a variety of situations, the most favourite 
being possibly a recess in a tree trunk, where a branch has rotted out, 
or in the cleft where a branch springs from the main stem, though a 
clump of fern growing out from a wall or a hole in the wall itself are 
sites often selected. The eggs, four or five in number, are usually 
of .a pale green ground-colour, prettily blotched with a light brown, 
though occasionally a clutch may be observed where the ground- 
colour is of decided green, with distinct spots of red-brown. 
Gannet — The Gannet or Solan Goose pre.sents on flight a 
noble appearance, as with straightly outstretched wings, it 
circles round its haunts high above the sea. Ag.ain, its 
plunge is impressive, as it hurls it.self from a height of over 
a hundred feet into the sea, which it strikes with great violence, dis- 
appearing in a cloud of spray ; this is its method of catching the 
