For many years past I have observed that towards Christmas vast
flocks of chaffinches have appeared in the fields; many more, I
used to think, than could be hatched in any one neighbourhood.
But, when I came to observe them more narrowly, I was amazed to
find that they seemed to be almost all hens. I communicated my
suspicions to some intelligent neighbours, who, after taking pains
about the matter, declared that they also thought them all mostly
females; at least fifty to one. This extraordinary occurrence brought
to my mind the remark of Linnaeus; that 'before winter, all their
hen chaffinches migrate through Holland into Italy.' Now I want to
know, from some curious person in the north, whether there are
any large flocks of these finches with them in the winter, and of
which sex they mostly consist? For, from such intelligence, one
might be able to judge whether our female flocks migrate from the
other end of the island, or whether they come over to us from the
continent.
We have, in the winter, vast flocks of the common linnets; more, I
think, than can be bred in any one district.
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