Chaffinches pair towards the end of February and throughout March, although flocks of “bachelors” may occasionally be seen as late as the first week in May, and commence building operations, as a rule, about the middle of April. They build deep, cup-shaped, and wonderfully neat little nests of moss, wool, lichens, and cobwebs, beautifully felted together and securely fixed in the forks of small trees in orchards, hedgerows, and woods. It is generally adorned on the outside with bits of green moss or grey lichens that will render it similar in appearance to its surroundings, and thus help it to escape detection. [Illustration: YOUNG CHAFFINCHES.] The eggs number from four to six, but clutches of five are the general rule, and are pale greenish-blue in ground colour, clouded with faint reddish-brown and spotted and streaked with dull purplish-brown of various shades. The female Chaffinch lacks the rich colouring of her mate, especially on the head and breast, and is a trifle smaller. The young are fed upon insects by both parent birds, and resemble their mother in appearance whilst wearing the first coat of feathers. [Illustration: landscape with trees] =THE PIED FLYCATCHER.= [Illustration: flowers and ferns] The Pied Flycatcher is a singularly well-named species, because it answers both adjective and noun exactly. The male is not quite as large as a Robin, and is, generally speaking, black and white, as shown in our illustration on the next page. In fact, a little girl who saw the picture, exclaimed, “What a pretty wee Magpie!” The small patch of white on the forehead varies in size. In some individuals it is quite conspicuous, and in others scarcely visible. The female lacks it altogether, and is generally less pronounced in her colours than her mate. [Illustration: MALE PIED FLYCATCHER OUTSIDE NESTING HOLE.] This species is partial to certain parts of the country, and although by no means common is to be met with in the six northern counties of England, in Wales, and in some parts of Scotland. Some authorities say that it is most numerous in the Lake District, but I have met with far more specimens in certain parts of the Principality than anywhere else. The male has a very pretty, though short and oft-repeated song. It resembles that of the Redstart so closely that it is difficult to say with certainty which bird is producing the music unless the singer be seen. This also applies to its call notes.