. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE GREENFINCH. 343 with the bark, that it can scarcely be discerned even when the observer has chmbed the tree and is looking down upon the nest. The bird, too, seldom flies directly in or out of the nest, but alights at a little distance from her tree, and then slips quietly through the leaves until she reaches her eggs or young. The materials of which the exterior of the nest is made differ according tc the tree in which it is placed. In general, fine grasses, wool, hairs, and very slender twigs are employed in constructing the walls, and the interio
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE GREENFINCH. 343 with the bark, that it can scarcely be discerned even when the observer has chmbed the tree and is looking down upon the nest. The bird, too, seldom flies directly in or out of the nest, but alights at a little distance from her tree, and then slips quietly through the leaves until she reaches her eggs or young. The materials of which the exterior of the nest is made differ according tc the tree in which it is placed. In general, fine grasses, wool, hairs, and very slender twigs are employed in constructing the walls, and the interior is softly lined with feathers, down, and hairs. The eggs are generally four or five in number, and delicately marked with small dots and streaks of light purplish brown upon a white ground, having a tinge of blue, something like " sky-blue " milk. The Greenfinch is one of our commonest birds, being resident in this country throughout the year, and not even requiring a partial migration. It is mostly found in hedges, bushes, and copses; and as it is a bold and familiar bird, is in the habit of frequenting the habitations of men, and even building its nest within close proximity to houses or gardens. When young the bird is fed almost wholly upon cater- pillars and various insects, and not until it has attained its full growth does it try upon the hard seeds the large bill which has obtained for it the title of Green Grosbeak. The nest of this bird is generally built rather later than is usual with the Finches, and is seldom completed until May has fairly set in. Its sub- stance is not unike that of the chaf- finch, being composed of roots, wool, moss, and feathers. It is not, however, so neatly made, nor so finely woven together, as the nest of that bird. The eggs are from three to five in num- ber, and the colour is bluish white, covered at the larger end with spots of brown and grey. Few birds are better known than the Common Linnet, although the change of plumage t
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
