i68 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



Since 1897 there has been a large colony in Cleveland 

 (the precise locality of which it would be unwise to indicate), 

 where some twenty to thirty pairs breed in comparative 

 security ; the first year or two the nests were on low and 

 easily accessible trees, some not more than five feet above 

 the ground, but, after being disturbed, they changed their 

 places of abode, and for the past three years most of the 

 nests have been built on the extremities of branches of oak 

 trees in a plantation, and are not discoverable until the fall 

 of the leaves in autumn. The usual time for nesting is the 

 third week in May, though a full clutch of eggs has been 

 found on the 13th of that month. In the early days of this 

 colony the nests were mere platforms of twigs and a few roots ; 

 afterwards more elaborate structures were built, with cup- 

 shaped nests on the platforms, made of roots or pieces of 

 fibrous bark, and lined with grass and hair. In the year 1902, 

 although it was known that nearly thirty pairs were in the 

 locality, only two nests were discovered, the remainder 

 being hidden by the thick foliage on the trees ; consequently 

 a swarm of young birds made their appearance in the 

 neighbouring gardens, and commenced an onslaught upon 

 the pea crops as soon as the pods began to fill. The irate 

 owners, whose property was thus destroj-ed, waged war on 

 the plunderers, with the result that, up to the middle of 

 September, no fewer than thirty-five, young and old, were 

 killed by means of traps, guns, and bird-lime. On the 9th 

 of September I saw whole rows of peas that had been 

 demolished by the powerful beaks of the Hawfinches, instru- 

 ments well adapted for such purposes. 



A departure from the usual t5'pe of egg is occasionally 

 met with, and some of a bluish colour have been found in 

 the Masham neighbourhood. 



The local names are few : — Grosbeak is of general use, 

 and Cherry Finch is applied to it at Upsall, Swaledale. 



