G R E E N F I N C H .
COCCOTHRAUSTES CHL0RI8.
THE wril-klMwri Greenfinch may be found in id most c m y part of tins British Islands—pass in a; the summer
only in those districts in which sufficient cover for uestiug-pnrpnscs is to be met with, though at ti s a
visitor to any wild and open portions or our coast-lino where the seeds of various plants afford a supply
of food. I have recognized this species during summer and autumn in many parts of the Highlands; with
but few exceptions, however, the birds were only noticed in districts where cultivation was carried on.
Though strong and hardy, the Greeuuueh appears somewhat susceptiblo to cold, but Tew, when compared
with the numbers of either the Yellow-Hammer or Chaffinch, remaining to face the wintry snow-squalls in the
more remote glens.
I n all the southorn and eastern counties or England with which I am best acquainted this species is
common nt every season of the year, joining not on frequently during winter in lloeks with oilier finches,
Huntings, or Sparrows, and resorting to farm-buildings and stackyards. On the 1st of February 1881, during a
slight frost. I Hatched for some time n party or eighteen or twenty clinging to the sides of a stack of oats that
had been cut in half; while crawling, after the manner of Titmice, up the even surface they eagerly extracted
the grain lying within their reach. Late in autumn and on through the winter Greenfinches may often bo
seen harbouring about the shiuglc-banks on the coast of Sussex to the west of Shoreham. Chaffinches, Twites,
and Linnets will usually be found in their company, or rrsorting in small separate parties to the same
range of bench, the weds of the numlterless rank weeds that grow on this barren waste proving the attraction
to the »p"i
Though Grecnliuchcs are usuallv supposed to commence their nesting-operations- so early as April, they may
not un frequently he seen in company after that date. For Several days after the 18th of -May, 1867, a succession
or small lloeks was encountered alone the links lo the oast of Ouubar, in East Lothian: as far as I was able to
ascertain by watching their movements, these hints were making their way northwards along tho const; a
week Inter others, though in reduced numliers, wen' noticed on the sandy links near Oullanc.
While residing in East Lothian I remarked that Green finches nested in considerable numbers, often in
close proximity lo one another, in the thorn hedges surrounding the plantations of beech near the coast of the
Firth of Forth. In the south of England this habit of breeding in company may also be observed; in our
garden near Brighton the birds were exceedingly plentiful during the summer of lsstt, their nests in soino
instances being placed so thickly that after the autumn gales had carried off the leaves from the shrubs and
young Irers at least half n dozen might he counted from one spot. The dense bushes of Citpremit* as well as
p r i n t appeared to be selected in preference lo other quarters, Ihough willow, poplar, lime, elm, and nsl-may
were also well patronized. One exceedingly curious nesl (the structure being of nearly twice the usual si/.ei,
placed al I he height of about six feet inn privet bush, attracted my attention, the whole of the foundation being
composed of a large mass of the common stoncerop (eW/on oere), torn up from a rockery close at hand. This