COOCOTHRAUSTES VULGARIS, PALLAS*.
THE HAWFINCH.
Goccothraustes vulgaris.
Coocothraustes, Prisson^.—Bill hard, nearly conical, very thick at the base,
tapering rapidly to the p o in t; culmen more or less rounded ; the mandibles
nearly equal, edges inflected and slightly indented. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval,
nearly hidden by projecting and recurved frontal plumes. Gape slightly arched.
Wings with the first primary finely attenuated and so small as to seem wanting,
the third and fourth primaries nearly equal, and rather longer than the second.
Tail short, and more or less forked. Tarsus scutellate in front, covered at the
sides with a single plate, stout and shortish. Claws moderately curved, rather
short and strong.
T h e H aw f in c h was for a long time described in many works
as an accidental visitor, appearing only in autumn or winter;
but, as increased attention was bestowed on ornithology,
more correct views on the subject prevailed, and this bird is
now known not only constantly to inhabit various parts of
England in considerable numbers, but also is believed to be
increasing year by year, both in numbers and in range.
* Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, ii. p. 12 (1811). t Orn. iii. p. 218.
This supposition was at first thought to be erroneous, for so
great is its shyness, that it can undoubtedly exist unsuspected
in many a district, until some lucky chance reveals its
presence to the less watchful, or some more than usually
close observer detects its sly and stealthy movements which
ordinarily defy near approach.*
One of the best and earliest accounts of its habits is
by the late Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, in the | Magazine
of Zoology and Botany’ (i. p. 448). Writing in 1887,
he says that having for some years given close attention to
the habits of the species he can safely assert that it is a
permanent resident, and cannot perceive any addition to its
numbers by the arrival of foreigners at any season. In his
neighbourhood its principal food appears to be the seed of
the hornbeam (Carpinus beiulci), but it also feeds on the
kernels of haws, laurels, plums and other stone-fruits, and
in summer makes great havock among green pease in gardens
near the forest.
About the middle of April the Hawfinch pairs, and in a
week or two begins to build. The nest is variously placed,
but most commonly in an old scrubby hawthorn, and is often
much exposed ; the horizontal arms of large oaks, the heads
of pollard hornbeams, hollies, and occasionally fir-tiees in
plantations, are also chosen as a site the elevation at which
it is built varying from five to twenty-five or thirty feet.
It is composed of dead twigs, of oak especially and honeysuckle,
intermixed with pieces of grey lichen ; the quantity
of this last material differing much, but being never absent.
In some nests it is only very sparingly placed among the
twigs, in others it forms the greater part. The lining consists
of fine roots and a little hair. The, whole fabric (as
figured at page 110) is very loosely put together, and to
remove it uninjured requires considerable care.
* The Editor may frankly say tliat lie has not half-a-dozen times had the
opportunity of seeing this bird at large, and never obtained more than a
momentary glimpse of it, sufficient to assure him as to its identity. He therefore
does not hesitate to avail himself of the carefully recorded details of its
habits given by so trustworthy an observer as that whose account is epitomized
in the text.