9 ° THE natural iijstory 
common, continue all the year, frequenting our 
court yards. In Sweden, the females migrate to 
the fouthward, and return again in the fpring; 
the males flay all the year j and even in Hamp- 
Ihirc flocks of females only, have been obferved; 
at leaft from their plumage they have been fuppo- 
fed to be fo ; but when we confider that the fea- 
fons occafion an alteration in the colours of fome 
birds, there may be reafon to fufpedt that this may 
be the cafe with the Chaffinches : Indeed this 
feems more probable, than that the females fhould 
feparate from the males of the fame fpecies, to 
migrate into another country, when they might 
fubiift as well as the males, in thofe climates 
where they were native. Their meft is curioufly 
conftructed of fibres of plants, and mofs, neatly 
lined with hair, wool, and feathers. They build 
in bufhy fhrubs, or trees well cloathed with foli¬ 
age, artfully concealing it, and lay five or fix 
eggs. 1 he male is numbered among our fong 
birds, though its notes are not very melodious; 
it has been remarked that when a Chaffinch has 
accidentally loft its fight, it fung more conftantly 
than before; and this has induced fome incon- 
fiderate perfons, to be guilty of the cruelty of 
clofing their eyes, by burning the eyelids with a 
hot wire; this occafions them to inflame, and unite 
together * 
