56 
CHAFFINCH. 
most determined of all the plunderers of our turnip-seed; and 
I see that those who practice this branch of husbandry sustain 
considerable loss, notwithstanding that a watch is daily set. 
When our grain crops ripen in August and September, the 
Chaffinches which haunted the recesses of woods and plantations 
flock to the borders, and unless the farmer is attentive to such 
matters, as from their small size they cannot be perceived 
at a distance, their depredations are often carried on with 
impunity. The trees around our dwellings are also the ren¬ 
dezvous of parties of plunderers, who sometimes join the 
Sparrows, but oftener keep together, and feed amongst the 
standing corn, at a greater distance from the hedge-row than 
the latter even venture. After the wheat is cut and placed 
in shocks, and whilst yet in a soft state, I have observed the 
Chaffinch deprive each grain of its outside coat previously to 
swallowing it. Although they always prefer feeding in the 
neighbourhood of trees or bushes, yet as the season advances, 
they are compelled to haunt more exposed situations. Of the 
cereal grasses, wheat and oats are their favourites, barley—the 
only other species cultivated in these parts—being held in 
less esteem. 
There is something very cheerful in the common note of 
the Chaffinch, and, as harbinging the return of spring, it is 
always hailed with welcome by the observer of the sights and 
sounds of the country. It is heard so soon as the beginning 
of February, or even the end of January, ordinarily resembling 
the monosyllables ‘twink, twink,’ and afterwards ‘tweet, tweet, 
tweet, tweet.’ 
This is the more usual number of repetitions, but the 
chirp is sometimes half as long again, and sometimes only half 
as long. An addition is made to it at its re-commencement 
for the season, somewhat resembling the syllables ‘churr-ee.’ 
Its song has but little variety, and is short, but mellow, and 
not altogether devoid of melody. At first it is only heard 
about the middle of the day, but as the season advances it 
is more prolonged, though never so late, as never is it 
either commenced so early, as that of many other birds. 
Discontinued during the busy part of the summer, it is 
resumed, though at first imperfectly, the end of July or 
beginning of August. The young males then essay the song 
their fathers have sung before them, but it requires some 
practice before they attain to their specific amount of excellence. 
