GREENFINCH.
•test being subsequently dragged out by n cat, the immense quantity of stonecrop used iu its construction
was plainly exposed to view. The young birds af'ler leav ing these nests joined in small parties, but did not quit
the loealily in which they were reared For several weeks, roosting at night in some small plantations of
sycamore. It was most amusing towards evening, especially when the weather was wet and showery, to watch
the forethought displayed hi the juveniles while choosing a cos\ -.it it I m am mg tile thick foliage, their object
being apparently to select a position, immediately below one of the large spreading leaves, wdiich would
evidently afford complete shelter from the raindrops.
A couple of broods are occasionally hatched in the same nest, the second clutch of eggs being laid shortly
after tho first family have taken their departure. This fact was noted ou two occasions (1SS1 and 1SS3) iu
a garden at Potter Jleigkam, in tho cast of Norfolk, the nests in both instances being place! in the same
yew tree.
I n their earlier stages the young birds somewhat resemble jttvi idle Crossbills; the markings or streaks on
the feather
death, a stuffed specimen
The Greenfinch is I
summer, and autumn an
especially conspicuous—•
Boating through the air i
After a prevalence
numberless small eatcrp
notes for 1884 it is recor
employed in tearing out
shrubs affected with this
Largo numbers of (
disposed of with Sparro
cely so strongly developed. The plumage of both species fades considerably after
g but a poor idea of either bird when seen in life.
means an accomplished songster, though its nofe and plaintive calls iu spring,
: to attract attention. The old male in early spring-time often renders himself
on wing in the bright sunshine, and, after a short flight, skimming or, rather,
ended pinions, with much the same actions as the Swallow or Martin,
lister!y winds during spring, hollies of all descriptions are often attacked by
that completely destroy the tender shoots in which they are curled up. In my
nder the date of June 17, that (Ireenlinehes were observed fur some time busily
insects. Sparrows arc also occasionally to be seen searching diligently over the
inches used formerly to be taken by bird-catchers during spring and autumn, and
r trap-shooting. Among the professional catchers of the south these birds are
a Chubs."
H A Y V F I N C H.
COCCOTHRAUSTES VULGARIS.
THE Hawfinch is said to be distributed over most of our English counties; it is, however, with the exception
of two or three docks noticed in winter in the midland counties, only in Sussex that Ibis species has come
under my observation. I well remember a few at Catsliold, _\ infield, and Hat tie in Sussex, about thirty years
ago; though their nests were never detected, I came to the conclusion later on that they were residents iu the
district.
I should be unwilling to state that this species can with certainly be attracted by a call-bird ; the following
is, however, my experience on the subject. While at school at narrow I noticed a fine old male in a storecage
in a bird-catcher's cottage, and, after becoming the purchaser of the bird for a shilling, look it home when
the holidays commenced. In a week I captured, in a clap-net, a couple of the Hawfinches previously observed
in this part of Sussex. The first flew across my net when set on the lawn at Catsfield House, which my
father then hired for several years, and the second settled dowu to tho call-bird in a large grass-Held just
outside tiie welt-limbered lawn at Catslield Park, belonging to Sir Andrew Pilkington, There is little doubt
that Hawflnehee bred at both these places ; and their nests could not have escape 1 observation had the birds
been carefully watched among the fruit-trees in the gardens, and the dense cover in the rough plantations
adjoining been also thoroughly searched.
On two occasions while staying iu Brighton f went and examined the nests of this species, and I he following
extracts from my notes may possibly give a slight idea as to some of the habits of the birds.
On the 24th of June, 1872, I started from Brighton soon after midnight and drove round by Lewes to
ITumpton, where several pairs of Hawfinches were reported to have been indicting a great deal of damage on
the peas in a garden where I had liberty to obtain specimens. Our destination was reached by daybreak,
and a few minutes later the old birds were observed feeding their young; the whole party, however, proved
exceedingly shy, and tho garden being large and surrounded by high trees, it was no easy matter to obtain
a shot. I was previously unacquainted with the call-note of this species, which, when once heard, is easily
recognized again; had it not been for their shrill whistle I should have had little chance of procuring the birds j
their approach was, however, invariably detected as they drew near by the sound before they appeared in sight-
After remaining on the watch for eight or nine hours, I succeeded in obtaining the male, female, and three
young ones, that had probably left the nest only a few days previously; the juveniles proved to be of about the
same itse as the old birds and quite as wary The nasi in which they bad been reered waa placed in i poar-tre •
in the centre of tho garden, and the gardener informed me that the birds had nested regularly ' n the same tree
for the las', -us or seven years. T h e ; destructive Bnefaes had devoured or destroyed the whole of the pes
thai were fit for gathering, the pods being cut to pieces hy their broad beaks, u:id the crop on seven rows
utterly ruined The pardoner stated that during the previous season be had sot some clams for Wo ad-Pigeons,
baited with herd peas, and iu two or three days h i l l a dozen Hawfinches were captured. The following wei k