244 GREENFIN) II.
hammers, and others, but though not exclusive in their habits, they in
general keep by themselves in straggling parties; even in summer small
flocks have been Been: as many as thirty have been 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,
return in the evening 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, such as yew
trees, holly bushes, and fir trees, afford them for building their nests: to
these also in winter they mostly repair at night for harbour, returning
to the same spot. They are fond of washing themselves. The old birds
pay great attention to their young, and Meyer points out how, on a
sudden, as 1 have observed myself in the case of the Hook, on a signal
note being given by the former that danger is apprehended, the latter
will instant ly cease their clamour, though even for food. lie also
records the following instance of their parental affection:—'One day
several little nestlings were caught in a field adjoining the garden; they
were scarcelj Hedged, 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 prowding 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, ami 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 end of a gravel path, where they entered a clump of
fir trees. In what manner the parents supported the nestling was not
very apparent, as the observers did not like to follow too quickly, lest
the old birds should relinquish their burden; but from the close vicinity
a ft K ENF1NCH.
of the three during their flight, it appeared as if they must have upheld
it by means of their beaks. The other nestlings had apparently been
conveyed away in the same manner, as none of them were to be found.'
1 remember myself several years ago going a mile at night to release
some young Greenfinches from a cage in which I had seen the old
birds feeding them the day before.
Their flight is quick, strong, and undulated, performed by two or
three rapid flaps of the wings, which are then closed, and a sweep
follows, down, and then up. ' Previous to retiring to rest, quitting the
company of their extraneous associates, they make many circular flights
in a compact body round their sleeping station, before they settle for
the night.' They sometimes wheel about for some little time before
alighting, but often settle down abruptly, and set to work in search of
food. If alarmed, they fly up to the highest parts of any trees that
may be near, from whence they drop again when the danger appears
to he removed. They associate, as before observed, in autumn and winter
with other birds.
Their food consists of wheat, barley, and other grain, and seeds,
those of the hawthorn occasionally, and green weeds, such as the
turnip, charlock, dandelion, groundsel, and chick weed; and in the
spring the buds of trees are picked oil", and the larva1 of different
insects also consumed: all these, as well as insects themselves, form
their 'bill of fare:' with the latter the young are fed. Various
mineral substances are swallowed to assist the process of digestion.
The husks of corn are ground off before being swallowed.
Their note, which Meyer likens to the word 'twav,' is at first
rather harsh, but becomes, as the year advances, tolerably full and
mellow, and is uttered in summer from the topmost spray of a hedge,
or some tree a little higher than others, as well as on the wing, but
there is not any approach to a song until the spring, generally about
the middle of April, but earlier or later according to the season,
and only to a trifling extent even then, but they are able to learn
the notes of other birds.
Nidification begins generally in April, or even earlier; the work has
been known to have been completed by the 20th. of March.
The nest is pretty well compacted, and much more so in some
instances than in others. It is composed of small roots, twigs, moss,
and straws, and lined with finer materials of the same kinds, mingled,
as the case may he, with thistle-down, feathers, and hair: one was
built last year in the trellis-work near the drawing-room of Nafferton
Vicarage, a few yards from that of the Spotted Flycatcher, but though
undisturbed, it was not resorted to again this year, as was that of