when its acquirements are more extensive; and those are very highly esteemed indeed which add to the end of their song one of the syllables, Pink or Tzap, which the bird-fanciers call the Amen. There are, however, many other varieties, besides those already mentioned, the names of which it is hardly worth while to repeat. It is remarkable, that the song of these birds varies, according to the district which they inhabit; and therefore that some songs are much more common in Thuringia than in the Hartz mountains, and vice versa. In Austria, again, where also this bird is a favourite, several songs are specified as the admiration of connoisseurs; which, as far as we can judge from the names, are not the same as those common with us.

The Chaffinch, when reared from the nest, is so docile, that it is able not only to acquire the song of another bird of the same species, but to produce an imperfect imitation of the notes of the Canary and Nightingale. In it, also, as in all other Cage-birds, may be noticed great natural variations in memory; for while one bird is able to repeat a song which it has heard but once, at least six months' study is necessary in order to enable another to accomplish the same. One is able to learn only a single variety of song, another acquires several; one is never able to repeat perfectly what it has learned, another will not only do this, but add notes of its own invention.

Another peculiarity of these birds is, that every year they relearn their song in a very singular manner. For four weeks or more in spring, they are said to record; to utter, that is, a continual murmuring or chirping, with which by degrees they intermix detached passages of their song. It is considered a great proof of excellence in a Chaffinch, if this process last only a week or a fortnight, and the song be reproduced in all its perfection at the end of that period. Other birds, which sing only at certain seasons of the year, begin by repeating their song in a low and uncertain tone, and introduce into it the notes of other birds; but in none is the recording so entirely different in character from the usual song. Attentive observation enables us to conclude that this recording is not to be considered as a practising of the song, but rather as an exercising of the physical powers of the throat and larynx, which for some months have been but little used. Wild Chaffinches begin to record immediately after their arrival in spring; those

confined in aviaries commence as early as the beginning of February, and sometimes continue the exercise for two months. The period during which they sing usually terminates in June, though some, which have been reared from the nest, will prolong their strains until Michaelmas.

In order to make the Chaffinch sing by night as well as by day, and to give its notes a greater depth and clearness, some bird-fanciers are guilty of a shameful act of cruelty. They first accustom the bird to find its food in the dark, by shutting out the light from the cage, and then with a red-hot needle either glue the eyelids together, or pierce the pupil, and so de-. prive the unfortunate prisoner of sight. Such conduct cannot be too strongly deprecated.

The Chaffinch seems to be in general a docile bird, and to possess other capabilities than that of song. A travelling Alsatian, Jeantet, had one in his possession which was able to distinguish and compare letters, figures, and colours; though it seemed to be scarcely as well acquainted with its lesson as the Canaries which were exhibited at the same time.

ADDITIONAL.-YARRELL remarks, that "the male Chaffinch is one of the most handsome of our common small birds, and in his general deportment is as lively as he is handsome. Thus distinguished by bright colours and active habits, and being besides very numerous as a species, and confident in behaviour, allowing the near approach of observers, without exhibiting much alarm; the Chaffinch is extremely well known, and as his gay appearance and song frequently noticed as early as February, points him out as one of the first of our indigenous birds, to afford an indication of returning spring, he is for these various reasons a general favourite. With our continental neighbours, the Chaffinch is one of their most common Cage-birds; and in France, from the lively colours and demeanour of this bird, the term 'gay as a Chaffinch,' is a proverbial phrase in frequent use.

The Finches, generally, are remarkable for the neatness and beauty of the nests they construct, and the Chaffinch is no exception to the rule. The outside of their nest is composed of moss, studded with white or green lichens, as may best accord with the situation in which it is built; the inside is lined with wool, and that is again covered with hair and some feathers. The eggs are usually four or five in number, of a pale purplish buff, sparingly streaked, and spotted with dark reddish brown. The place chosen is variable; sometimes it is fixed in the fork of a hush, in a hedge-row, on a branch of a wall-fruit tree, fre

quently in an apple or pear-tree, several feet above the ground. A correspondent in the Field Naturalist's Magazine, relates that a pair of Chaffinches built in a shrub so near his sitting-room window as to allow him to be a close observer of their operations. The foundation of their nest was laid on the 12th of April, the female only worked at the nest-making, and, by unwearied diligence, the beautiful structure was finished in three weeks; the first egg was deposited on the 2d of May, four others were subsequently added, and the whole five were hatched on the 15th. During the time of incubation, neither curiosity nor constant observation from the opened window disturbed the parent bird; she sat most patiently; the male bird often visited his partner, but it was not discovered whether he ever brought her food."

It is said by LINNEUS, in his Fauna of Sweden, that the female Chaffinches migrate from that country in winter, but that the males do not, and the name of Calebs, the bachelor, was bestowed by him on this species, in reference to this circumstance. SELBY and WHITE, as well as other English naturalists, have noticed this separation of the sexes, "which," says BOLTON, “it is difficult to account for; perhaps the males being more hardy and better able to endure the northern winters, are content to remain in the country and pick up such fare as they can find, while the females seek for subsistence in more temperate regions."

With WATERTON, it may be observed, the Chaffinch is a prime favourite, as, indeed, from its beauty, liveliness, and docility it well deserves to be. Twink, Shelly, Shell-apple, Chaffy, Boldie, and Beech Finch, are the names by which it is known in different localities; in Scotland they call it the Shilfa, under which name several of their poets have alluded to the bird.

104. THE MOUNTAIN FINCH.

Fringilla Montifringilla, LIN. Pinson d'Ardennes, Bur.

Berg Fink, BECH.

Der

Description.-The Mountain Finch is six inches and a quarter in length, of which the tail measures two inches and a half. The beak is half an inch long; brown in winter, and in suramer yellow, tipped with black. The feet are nine lines in height, and dark flesh colour. The feathers of the head and throat are bright black, with a border of dark reddish yellow, which becomes less marked as the bird advances in age. The belly is mottled with white; the feathers of the back are black, with a broad margin of dark yellow. The rump is