EGGS OF BEITISH BIRDS. ; 237 



than those of any of the allied Finches, except those of the 

 Lesser Kedpole, with which their size effectually prevents any 

 confusion. They vary from 0"85 to 0"7 inch in length, and from 

 00 to 0'55 inch in breadth. 



THE LARGE BULLFINCH. 

 (Pyrrhula major.) 

 This large form of our common Bullfinch is an inhabitant of 

 Scandinavia and Europe east of Poland, as well as of Siberia. It 

 has twice been obtained in Yorkshire. 



Its nesting habits resemble those of the ordinary Bullfinch, and 

 the eggs differ only in being slightly larger. 



THE HAWFINCH. 



(Goccothraustes vulgaris.)* 

 Plate 56, Figs. 5, 8. 



The Hawfinch is by no means so rare a bird as has been 

 generally supposed. It is very local, and during the breeding- 

 season it is so shy and skulking that it frequently escapes detec- 

 tion. It probably breeds in suitable localities in almost every 

 county of England and Wales, excepting perhaps north of York- 

 shire. It is found in suitable localities throughout Europe, 

 Siberia, and the north island of Japan, south of lat. 60°. 



The nest is a very beautiful piece of handiwork, and is similar 

 to that of the Bullfinch, but on an enlarged scale. The outside 

 is invariably made of twigs, frequently intermixed with lichens 

 and sometimes with dry plants ; and the cup of the nest is formed 

 of dry grasses, lined with fine roots and often a little hair ; it is 

 not unusually shallow, and is neatly finished. 



The eggs vary from four to six in number, and are usually laid 

 about the second week in May, sometimes earlier. There are 

 two very distinct types. The usual type is pale olive or bluish- 

 green in ground-colour, streaked with dark olive-brown, and 

 having a few spots of the same colour on the surface, and with 

 underlying markings of greyish-brown. The second type differs 

 only in having the ground-colour buff and the underlying spots 

 more inclined to violet-grey. The eggs vary in length from l'O 

 to 0'85 inch, and in breadth from 0"8 to 0'67 inch. 



* Coccothraustcs coccothranstcs — Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 33. 



