CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. IO9 



of hedge. Four to six eggs are laid — in colour, 

 greenish-blue, spotted with reddish or purplish- 

 brown. Two broods are reared. In regard to 

 habitat abroad, Howard Saunders says : "It is 

 generally distributed during the breeding-season 

 throughout the temperate regions of Europe down 

 to the Mediterranean. ... In winter our Chaffinch 

 occurs in Egypt ; it breeds on Hermon and 

 Lebanon, and in the forest region of Persia, and has 

 been found as far east as Omsk in Siberia." 



The specimens were, I think, shot near the Cater- 

 ham Valley. 



The Greenfinch. 

 Family, Fringi Hides. 

 This species more resembles the Hawfinch in 

 shape and bill than any other of our Finches. It is 

 resident and pretty common throughout Great 

 Britain and Ireland, its usual habitat being in the 

 vicinity of wooded districts which are surrounded by 

 a good deal of cultivation. It has been suggested 

 by Mr. W. H. Hudson that this particular Finch 

 does not get half the appreciation that is its due — 

 that we think more of the Chaffinch — I am inclined 

 to agree with him about this. As regards beauty 

 of plumage, if the Greenfinch be viewed under 

 favourable conditions of light — as when it is sitting 

 on a branch of a tree in full leaf, with the sun shin- 

 ing, lighting up the olive and bright yellow which 

 are in such complete harmony with general surround- 

 ings — then, I think, our little Greenfinch can hold 



