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G R E E N G RO S B E A K .
Coccothraustes chloris, Flem.
Le Gros-bec verdier.
The Green Grosbeak is abundantly dispersed over the whole o f Europe, where it is strictly indigenous
and as far as our observation has gone is nowhere migratory. Its natural habits lead it to frequent gardens’
orchards, shrubberies and cultivated lands, and it is one o f the most iamiliar and docile o f our native birds • ite
outspread wings and tail during flight attracting the eye with coloure which are scarcely surpassed in beimty
by any one o f the FnngtUOai. When spring has clothed the vegetable world with foliage, the Green Grosbeak
constructs its nest on a branch in the most leafy part o f shrubs or hedgerows, often at a considerable
distance from the ground, the nest being generally composed o f leaves, moss, grass and small twigs lined
with wool, hair mid a few feathers. The eggs are four or five in number, of a pale blueish white, speckled
at the larger end with reddish brown. Tile young are distinguished from the adult during the greater part
of the first autumn by the strong oblong dashes o f brown which pervade the breast and under surface This
particular feature, together with the robust bill, short tail, and bulky body, characterizes it as a true Gros-
beak ( Coccothraustes), at the extreme limits o f which genus we consider this bird should be placed where it
would appear to form a union with the true species o f Fringilla as restricted by authors o f the present day.
At the commencement o f autumn the Green Grosbeak assembles in considerable numbers, with Chaffinches
and Buntings, and being driven by the severities o f the season from fields and gardens, retires to fann-yards
where a bountiful supply o f grain yields it a subsistence.
The male differs from the female in having the plumage more brilliant, and by rather exceeding her in
size. 6
The male has the whole o f the upper surface o f a bright olive-green, passing Into yellow; the quills blackish
grey with their outer webs bright gamboge yellow; the tail-feathers, with the exception o f the two middle
ones, which are grey margined with light yellow, and their exterior edges, which are greyish brown are of
the same fine gamboge yellow as the wings; under parts greenish, passing into sulphurous yellow - legs
brown; bill white with a tinge of pink. 8
Our Plate represents the adult male, and young bird of the first autumn, of the natural size.