JAPANESE HAWFINCH 201 



The nest itself is built on a crude platform, often in a tree fork. 

 Kobayashi and Ishizawa (1933) describe two typical examples: 



One nest obtained in Kitami Province, Hokkaido, is 20 x 17 cm. in outer 

 diameter, 10 x 8 cm. in inner diameter, 6 cm. in height and 4 cm. in depth. 

 It is a relatively crude structure, dead vines being used for the outside and rootlets 

 and horse hair for the inside. Another nest from Kokaido [Hwang-hae Do], 

 Corea, is 11 cm. in outer diameter, 6 x 7 in inner diameter, 7.5 cm. in height and 

 5 cm. deep. The principal material for the outside structure is dead grass, with 

 which is mixed waste cloth and waste thread. For the inside part a large quantity 

 of rootlets are used. 



Eggs. — The normal clutch is five eggs, but sets of three to six are 

 reported. Kobayashi and Ishizawa (1933) describe them as follows: 



"They range from oval to broad oval or elliptical oval in shape, 

 with medium lustre. The ground color is light greenish blue with 

 spots and short streaks distributed all over the surface, particularly 

 in abundance near the obtuse end. Shell marldngs are ashy grey 

 while surface markings are dark brown in thick and thin shades. 

 The average size of 50 eggs from 13 clutches is 23.68 x 17.45 mm., 

 the maximum being 26.0 x 18.5 mm. and the minimum 19.3 x 16.5 

 mm. and 24.2 x 15.8 mm. (the average size being 23.0 x 17.5 mm.). 

 Eighteen eggs weigh on the average 3.7 g." 



Incubation. — Yamashina (1933) states that incubation of the one 

 brood per year is by the female only, and requires 14 to 15 days. 

 On the other hand Kiyosu C1943) states that the chicks hatch after 

 9 to 10 days incubation (which approximates European findings) 

 and remain in the nest 10 to 11 more days. He also notes that the 

 female is fed by the male while incubating, and that the young are 

 fed by both parents. 



Plumages. — Kiyosu (1943) describes the newly hatched chick as 

 "flesh-colored with long white down, sparsely distributed in the 

 pteryla above the eyes and on the hind neck, back, fore-wings, thighs, 

 belly, etc. The inside of the mouth is pm^plish red at the top of the 

 upper mandible and red at the basal part and the rest of the mouth, 

 while the edge of the mouth is bright yellow." 



The first juvenal plumage is replaced by a partial postjuveual 

 molt which occurs late in July and is completed by the end of August, 

 and involves all but the flight feathers, secondary coverts, and tail 

 feathers. In this plumage the bird is similar to the adult in winter 

 plumage, which is acquired by a complete postnuptial molt in early 

 autumn. 



Food. — The Japanese hawfinch is essentially a seed, bud, and fruit 

 eater, although it adds insects to its diet to increase its protein intake 

 in the breeding season. Yamashina (1933) states, "They feed chiefly 

 on cereals, beans, fruits, or seeds of pine and cryptomeria, and par- 

 ticularly on the fruits of the muku tree [Aphananthe aspera] in winter. 



