GOLDFINCH. 
197 
without its compactness of form ; it contains also a much 
greater proportion of moss in its construction. The outer 
part is of moss and roots, closely intermixed and twisted 
together with wool, and ornamented outside with lichens; 
it is thickly lined with the soft seed of willows and this¬ 
tles, mixed with the down of feathers, and a few hairs. 
The eggs are four or five, and rarely six, in number; they 
vary little, and greatly resemble those of the grey and 
mountain linnets 
