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C i t tA F iW C H
F r in g i l l a C a le b « , /£ m a .
Genus FRINGILLA.
Gbh. C h a r . B i ll concave, longer than deep, straight, and pointed; cutting edges entire, and
forming a straight commissure. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, partly hidden by the frontal
plumes. Tail slightly forked. Legs having the tarsi of mean length, with the toes divided
and adapted for hopping or perching. Claws sharp.
CH A F F IN CH .
Fringilla Coelebs, Linn.
Le Gros-bec pinson.
T h is ornamental Finch is so well known to all persons whose attention has been directed to the habits of our
native birds, that we doubt whether we can offer any novelty relative to its history. It appears to be very
generally distributed over every portion o f Europe, in most parts o f which it is stationary. “ All the
ornithologists,” says Mr. Selby, “ describe this species as permanently resident with us, and nowhere subject
to that separation of the sexes, and the consequent equatorial movement o f the females, which is known to
take place in Sweden and other northern countries. The fact, however, is otherwise, as the experience o f a
series o f years has evinced that these birds, in a general point of view, obey the same natural law in the
North o f England. In Northumberland and Scotland this separation takes place about the month o f November,
and from that period till the return o f spring few females are to be seen, and those few always in
distinct societies. The males remain, and are met with, during the winter, in immense flocks, feeding with
other granivorous birds in the stubble lands, as long as the weather continues mild, and the ground free from
sh ow ; and resorting, upon the approach o f storm, to farm-yards, and other places o f refuge and supply.”
The remarks which we have quoted from Mr. Selby will apply to the habits and manners o f this bird in the
South o f England. We have observed that during autumn aud the early parts o f spring our gardens and
orchards are comparatively deserted by this handsome bird, and that it must then be sought for in the wide
fields and hedge-rows, far removed from our immediate precincts. It pairs early in the spring, and again
returns to enliven our gardens and orchards by its simple song and sprightly actions, when the work of nidi-
fication is soon commenced. The nest is o f the neatest construction, being outwardly composed of the most
delicate lichens, (generally obtained from the apple-tree,) interwoven with wool, and lined with feathers and
fine hair; it is placed in various situations, such as the branch of an apple-tree, the whitethorn, or any other
shrub or tree whose foliage affords it a sufficient shelter to protect the eggs, which are four or five in number,
o f a pinky white spotted with reddish purple.
The food of the Chaffinch is of a mixed nature, feeding in winter on grains and seeds, and in summer on
most species o f insects and their larvae, which it devours with avidity.
The sexes, as is the case with most of the true Finches, offer a contrasted difference in their colouring;
neither can the beautiful spring plumage remain unobserved, when compared with the sober livery o f winter.
The male in spring has the bill o f a fine blue grey; the crown o f the head and nape rich grey; the centre
of the back chestnut; rump greenish yellow; lesser wing-coverts white; quills black, edged with yellowish
white; two middle tail-feathers grey, tinged with olive; three next, on each side, entirely black; the outer
ones with a large white spot on their inner webs; the cheeks, neck, throat, and under surface chestnut brown ;
lower part o f the belly and vent white; legs and feet brown. In the female the whole o f the upper surface
is olive brown, becoming richer on the upper tail-coverts ; cheeks, throat, and under surface greyish brown ;
vent and under tail-coverts while; the wings and tail as in the male, but the white marks less distinct.
The young males in autumn resemble the females.
Our Plate represents the birds in their spring plumage, although we must acknowledge our inability to do
justice to the rich and harmonious tints which pervade the feathers of the living bird, and which afford so much
attraction and ornament to our lawns and shrubberies.