CHAFFTWR. 
57 
Two "broods are hatched in the year. The first is usually 
abroad by the beginning or middle of May; the second by 
the end of July. 
The nest of the Chaffinch is built on fruit or other trees in 
orchards and gardens, in the fields and hedges, and in the 
latter themselves also, occasionally, against a wall. The late 
Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, has recorded one which was placed 
in a whin bush; and another, which came under the observation 
of Mr. J. R. G-arrett, which was built against the stem of a 
pine tree, and rested on one of the branches, to which it was 
bound with a piece of fine whip-cord: this was taken once 
round the branch and its ends were firmly interwoven in the 
materials of the nest. It is commonly placed from six to 
twelve feet from the ground—sometimes higher; it is rarely 
completed before the end of April. While it is being fabricated, 
the birds shew great disquietude at the approach of any one, 
by continued notes of alarm, and actions depictive of uneasiness. 
The nest of one pair has been known to have been built in a 
bean rick. The male bird assists in the work of incubation. 
The hen bird when sitting is strongly tenacious of her place, 
and is not easily frightened from it, sometimes allowing herself 
to be captured sooner than forsake her charge; in one instance 
she has been found frozen to death at her post. 
The nest is truly a beautiful piece of workmanship, compact 
and neat in the highest degree. It is usually so well adapted 
to the colour of the place where it is built, as to elude 
detection from any chance passer by—close scrutiny is required 
to discover it. It is therefore variously made, according to 
the nature of the elements of construction at hand. Some 
are built of grasses, stalks of plants, and small roots, compacted 
with the scales of bark and wool, and lined with hair, with 
perhaps a few feathers; the outside being entirely covered with 
tree moss and lichens, taken from the tree itself in which it 
is placed; the assimilation being thus rendered complete. 
Others are without any wool, its place being supplied by 
thistle-down and spider-cots. In fact the bird accommodates 
itself to circumstances, or rather circumstances to its require¬ 
ments, using such materials as are at hand. The upper edge 
of the nest is generally very neatly woven with slender straws, 
and the width of the open part is often not more than an 
inch and a half, but usually an inch and three quarters; the 
whole is firmly fixed between the branches to which some of 
its component parts are attached for the purpose. 
