C H A F F I N C H .
once to sleep; while the ChaTinehes, though tired, seemed of an inquiring disposition, and peeked about all
over the deck, only fluttering a few feet when any of the crew passed near them. One poor little bird,
evidently much distressed by its journey, after being a passenger for at least twenty miles, left us as we were
entering the harbour, and fluttered on board a fishing-boat just going out. Hero be perched himself in a
basket banging over the stern and was carried to sen again. All the Chaffinches that earao on board during
the day were, without exception, males. In the flocks passing the steam-boat I did not recognize any females;
in many instances, however, they were too far olf to be clearly examined.
During rough and stormy weather, and, indeed, immediately before a gale, few, if any, small birds- are rash
enough to attempt to cross. The llllb and 1 It h of t lelober pro veil si pi idly with drift nig rain from the southwest;
and on those days no Chaffinches or Larks were observed on the passage. Ou the l l l l i of October,
weather still and hazy, the whole of the birds of passage were making good way ; and though large numbers
of Hooks, Starlings, Larks, Challinehes, and Tree-Sparrows were continually passing the vessel while about ten
miles outside the Cross Sands, the only visitors that boarded us were two or three Tree-Sparrows, who took
their departure after a short rest. The males were apparently most numerous in the flocks of Challinehes,
though I clearly recognized one or two small parties entirely composed of females.
Ou several days between the 21st of October and the 9th of November, I was out at sea in company with
the herring-fleet; hut not a single Chaffinch was seen crossing, the only birds of passage observed being
Rooks, Grey Crows, Starlings, Larks, Snow-Huntings, and Peewits. On Monday the 11th a most disastrous
gale of wind sot in, with terrilic squalls from north-north-east. After cemtiuuins; blowing all the week from
east, south-east, and east-south-east, the wind dropped on the ISth, and on the 20th we were again enabled
to steam round the Cross Sands. At the invitation of the master, I went on board the ' Newarp ' floating liiriit,
and learned they had not yet spoken any vessel since the gale, which they had ridden out with 100 fathoms of
cable ; and though, naturally, hai ing experienced rough times, every thing, as usual on all the Trinity ships, was
in the greatest possible order and brightness. I found on board the only birds that had struck the lights or
settled on deck during the storm. These were two Stormy Petrels, one male Siskin, one Tree-Sparrow, one
female Blackbird, and one male Chaffinch. This appears a late date for this species to be still crossing ; I did
not bear of any others till the following spring.
On March 27lh, 1873, a fine bright morning, light easterly breeze, I was out on Hiekling Uroad in the
east of Norfolk, and noticed soon after daybreak immense flocks of Starlings flying cast, also several parties of
male Challinehes. These Finches were apparently all bound due east, and passed over without halting; as far as
I could judge there was not a female among their numbers. Meadow-Pipits were also taking up their quarters
round the broad after a winter's absence from the district. A few days later (April 7) I received from the
• Lynn Well' light-ship the wings of a few Chaffinches, also several Starlings, and one Meadow-Pipit. This
would go to prove that some at least of the flocks observed on the Norfolk coast had continued their journey
across the North Sea, After an interval of a few weeks, wings were again sent from the same vessel; and these
plainly indicated that Chaffinches had passed over till the end of April. These birds, I was informed, were all
rod-breasted, and consequently males.
In the sprint; of 1875 a large mixed (luck of Bramblings, Chaffinches, and Tree-Sparrows resorted for
several weeks to some arable ground on the downs near Palmer in Sussex. I remarked that the Chaffinches
were both males and females, and, as near as I could judge, in about equal numbers.
Daring the severe gale and protracted frost on the coast of Sussex in January 1881, Chaffinches, like
other small birds, suffered excessively. The frozen victims that came under my notice were of both sexes.
Passing on several occasions along the sea-wall from Siioreham to Lancing durimr November and
December 1SS2, and in January 18S3, I repeatedly disturbed large flocks of small birds that resorted for food
to the various seed-producing weeds and plants growing on the shingle-banks. Greenfinches, Linnets, Twites,
C H A F F I N C H , 3
and Chaffinches were constantly to be seen; and here again 1 remarked both males and females in about,
equal numbers. By the latter cud of February the parties of Challinehes were considerably reinforced, I hough
at that date a few pairs bad evidently taken up their summer quarters along the more wooded portion of the
coast-line. The males were singing constantly during the sunshine when the weather was warm and bright.
I cannot call to mind having heard the note of this species on previous so i-mis - > early in the year.
On the Gib of March l^SIl, several straggling parties of Chaffinches, with but tew exceptions all males,
were noticed flying north across the Downs near Brighton. The weather was remarkably still and tine, with a
light air from the north.
During the lummer months Ibis handsome species takes up its quarters in gardens and pleasure-grounds
in the immediate vicinity of dwelling-houses, as well as throughout the woods and coverts. A few pairs are
also to be met with among the scattered bushes and plantations in remote and rocky glens, and even on the
furze-covered downs uf the southern counties. The neat and beautifully constructed ncsl is loo well known to
need description ; and the eggs are to be seen in the collection of every schoolboy. Seeds and insects supply
the chief items of the food of this useful bird. Destructive it may lie at times to the produce of the farm uud
garden ; hut the quantities of injurious caterpillars it clears off, alone amply for all its previous delinquencies.
In seven weather it will greedily prey on the bones and crumbs provided for Robins and other small pensioners,
and if hard pressed will ravenously attack raw flesh, if accessible".