296 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



Tajra safra is given indiscriminately to both tlie males, 

 females, and young. 



12. (109) Coccothraustes coccothraustes coccothraustes (L.). 

 The Hawfinch. 



Local name : Ghasfur taz-zehhug . 



Both Sebembri and Wriglit say tbat this species occurs on 

 migration in November and December, and is common in 

 some years and rare in others. From my personal experience 

 I can say that it is to be considered as a rare bird, and that 

 it is only in an exceptional way when it does occur in any 

 considerable numbers. When this happens, the first arrivals 

 are noticed by the third or last week of October, and when 

 the birds are not seen at that time they are generally not 

 expected to pass at all. In 1907 and 1909 we had an 

 exceptionally abundant passage of Hawfinches, and in 1909 

 especially, flocks composed of ten or more individuals were 

 by no means a rare sight; during that year the first arrivals 

 were observed on the 17tli of October, and I have then seen 

 one taken as late as the end of March. In 1907 I noted the 

 first arrivals by the first week of October ; the birds, however, 

 did not seem to linger here for more than two months. 



13. (98) Chloris cWoris chloris (L.). The Greenfinch. 

 Local name : Verdun. 



Pretty common and arriving in tolerably large numbers 

 during some years, becoming scarce, however, in others. 

 The first arrivals are generally noticed by the middle of 

 October; the bulk of the birds, however, are not observed 

 before the end of this or the beginning of the following 

 month. Solitary individuals are at times seen as early as 

 the first days ot" October, but this is to be considered as 

 quite unusual ; the few individuals which escape the nets, 

 set for them and for other Finches, usually stay here for 

 the winter. In January fresh arrivals are often noticed ; 

 these, however, stay here for a rather short period and 

 generally depart together with those which have passed the 

 winter with us. In May 1910 I found a nest of the Green- 

 finch, and I have been assured that the case, though 



