200 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part i 



ward throughout their range, sometimes coming into more open 

 country in small groups, usually of less than a score of individuals, 

 though flocks of 400 have been observed. 



The Ufe histories of none but the nominate race have been well 

 studied, though more data are available on japonicus than on most of 

 the rest. The several European ornithologists, Sowerby, Bergman, 

 and Jahn, who have written of their first-hand field experiences with 

 the Japanese hawfinch all remark the similarity of its habits to those 

 of the European form. Hence I have drawn freely from accounts of 

 the latter where details are lacking on the Asiatic bird. 



Courtship. — The courtship of C.c.japonicus has never been described. 

 The Witherby "Handbook of British Birds" (1938) portrays the court- 

 ship of C.c.coccothraustes as follows: 



E. M. Nicholson observed courtship from Feb. 25 in flock by two pairs: later 

 apart from flock. Chief points are constant pursuit of female by very attentive 

 male and the "kiss." Male observed to approach female on ground with "great 

 bounding hops," halting face to face and tipping bill lightly against hers, once 

 only, then hopping away again, all in silence without pause. "Kiss" also ob- 

 served in trees amongst flock; initiative always taken by male. W. H. Thompson 

 observed: (1) display in flock by single birds, which would stand very erect 

 trailing and partially spreading wings and tail, showing the flashes of colour to 

 advantage. No notice appeared to be taken by other birds. (2) Pursuit of 

 female by male. (3) Mutual courtship of bowing and bill-touching by pair. 

 (4) Coition, preceded by calling of female, but not by display of male; on one 

 occasion male flew straight to female in response to call, from perch more than 

 100 yds. away. More observation needed on relation between (1) and (2). 

 W. E. Teschemaker, with captive birds, observed side to side swaying action of 

 both sexes and describes female soliciting by this movement, with drooping wings, 

 low crooning note, and "kiss." 



Nesting. — The hawfinch prefers to nest in deciduous trees in mixed 

 forests. In Europe it is reported frequently to build near human 

 dwellings, in trees in parks and in the yards of homes. In eastern 

 Asia, however, it is essentially a shy forest bird and difficult to observe 

 during the breeding season. It shows a preference for nesting in 

 scrubby growth near the edges of heavy woods, or in brushy copses 

 near the mouth of a river. 



It builds a shallow, cup-shaped nest, usually from 2 to 3 meters 

 above the ground, though occasionally in taU trees considerably 

 higher. Kobayashi and Ishizawa (1933) observed four nests in 

 Hokkaido "all made on branches of red-berried elders two to three 

 meters above the ground," but add that in Korea "nests are made 

 mostly in boughs of tall chestnut trees." Kobayashi later (1937) 

 found four more nests in Hokkaido, all "two to three meters from 

 the ground in ash trees." Yamashina (1933) reports it builds fre- 

 quently in high conifers. 



