nimnl libtarn Eoics 



ORNITHOLOGY, 

 On the Occurrence of tbe Hawfinch (Goccofhraus-tes 

 vulgm-is) ON and around Brandon Hill. 



A FEW of these birds may be found every year, when the 

 hawthorn is in berry, an Dardham Down and Brandon 

 Hill ; but this winter, owing, I presnine, to the scarcity of 

 their food, through the pretty general failui^e of the haw- 

 thorn fruit, many have congregated on and near Brandon 

 Hill, where the ti*ees have a considerable number of berries 

 on them. Any one crossing the hill may see specimens any 

 day, and at almost any time of the day, by walking quietly 

 among the trees and keeping a stealthy watch for them. 

 The birds are exceedingly shy, and if you stop in your walk 

 to look at them, they at once take flight ; but if you pass 

 along as if not noticing them, they feed on unconcernedly. 



I have had abundant opportunities of watching these 

 birds, as one or more have been feeding every day through 

 the winter in a tree close to the windows of my house at 

 Bellevue, Clifton. They sit very quietly in the tree, only 

 moving now and then to pick a berry, v/hich by a slight 

 movement of the beak is stripped of its flesh, which falls to 

 the ground ; the stone of the fruit is then held for a second 

 or two in the beak, of which you see a slight movement 

 when the two sides of the stone are seen to fall, the kernel 



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