178 TUE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



in numbers from fifteen or twenty to one hundred, or even to two 

 hundred individuals. In this manner they remain through the winter, 

 feeding on the hornbeam seeds whicli have fallen to the ground, the 

 newly-cracked shells of which are to be seen in abundance at their 

 haunts." 



The Hawfinch sometimes utters a few soft, plaintive, and agreeable 

 notes, bearing some resemblance to those of the Bullfinch. Its call is 

 sharp and unpleasant, and is likened by Bechstein to the syllables 

 'Itz! tziss!' 



The male weighs about two ounces, and is a little over seven inches 

 in length. The bill is blue in summer, and flesh-coloured in winter. 

 The irides are light grey, and the legs, toes, and claws brownish red. 

 The head and neck are fawn-colour, the latter crossed behind by a 

 broad band of ash grey. The throat and the space between the beak 

 and the eye are black. The back is rich chesnut above, fading into 

 brownish grey, and then changing downwards into yellowish brown. 

 The tail is black, with the two centre feathers grey at the tips, and 

 the outer ones partly edged with white. The wings are for the most 

 part black, with a broad band of white running across them, and the 

 quill feathers tipped with steel-blue. The breast and under parts of 

 the body are pale yellowish brown. The female is a little smaller, and 

 considerably paler in colour. 



THE GOLDFINCH, 



f Cairluch's cL'gans.) 

 PLATE XI. — FIGURE V. 



The Goldfinch is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of our British 

 birds, and well deserves the title of ehgans (elegant), for not only is 

 his plumage brilliantly coloured and handsomely marked, but his shape 

 is remarkably graceful and compact. Besides his personal appearance, 

 his sprightly manners, docile disposition, and sweet song combine to 

 make him a universal favourite. 



This bird inhabits a very large extent of country, being distributed 

 over the whole of Europe, a large part of Asia, and the north-western 

 portion of Africa. It is also found in the Canary Isles, Madeira, and 

 Cuba. In the British Isles it is to be met with in numerous localities 

 throughout England and Wales, and is plentiful in many parts of 



