94 
GREENFINCH. 
noticed together the .last week in June. They are rather 
timid, though not particularly shy birds, but are easily 
caught, and kept in confinement. 
The late William Thompson, Esq., of Belfast, records in 
his ‘Natural History of Ireland,’ that he has known young 
Greenfinches, which after being kept for some little time 
were given their liberty every morning, and in the evening 
they returned as regularly to their cage to roost, as in a 
wild state they would have done to their favourite tree or 
shrub; so, he says, the Canary will also do, though but 
rarely. 
In the spring time combats between them are frequently 
witnessed; at this season, too, they fly and wheel about, 
mostly in the morning, in a curious frolicsome manner, rising 
and fluttering, and then returning to the same bough many 
times in succession. They then resort still more nearly to 
the vicinity of human habitations, principally no doubt on 
account of the earlier shelter which plantations of evergreens 
afford them for building their nests, to which also in winter 
they mostly repair at night for harbour for themselves, 
returning to the same spot. They are fond of washing 
themselves. The old birds pay great attention to their 
young; and Me} r er points out how, on a sudden, as I have 
observed myself in the case of the Book, on a signal note 
being given by the former that danger is apprehended, the 
latter will instantly cease their clamour, though perhaps for 
food. He also records the following instance of their parental 
affection:—‘One day several little nestlings were caught in 
a field adjoining the garden; they were scarcely fledged, and 
could not fly; we put them in a small cage, which we 
placed in a low hedge bordering the field where they were 
captured. It was not long before they were discovered by 
the parents, who immediately visited them, and appeared to 
bring them food. These marks of affection interested us, 
and fearing that where they were placed the young nestlings 
might become a prey to prowling cats, we gave them their 
liberty. The parents, however, appeared not yet satisfied 
respecting the safety of their young ones, for a short time 
after they were observed in the act of carrying one of them 
away; they were bearing it between them at about the 
elevation of a foot and a half from the ground, and in this 
manner were seen to carry it above fifty yards, namely, from 
the spot where the young birds were set at liberty, to the 
