
go THE NATURAL HISTORY 
common, continue all the year, frequenting our 
court yards. In Sweden, the females migrate to - 
- the fouthward, and return again in the {pring; 
the males ftay all the year; and even in Hamp- 
fhire flocks of females only, have been obferved; 
at leaft from their plumage they have been fuppo- 
fedto be fo; but when we conf&der that the fea- 
fons occafion an-alteration in the colours of fome 
birds, there may be reafon to fufpect that this may 
be the cafe with the Chaffinches: Indeed ‘his 
feems more probable, than that the females fhould 
feparate from the males of the {ame fpecies, to 
migrate into another country; when they might 
fubfift as well as the males, in thofe climates” 
_ where they were native. Theit neft is curioully” 
-conftrudted 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. The male is numbered among our feng 
| birds, though its notes are not very melodious; — 
jt 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 Be to be guilty of the cruelty of 
clofing their eyes, by burning the eyelids with a 
het WIE ; j this occafions them to inflame, and unite _ 
together; 



