124 FRINGILLIDiE. 
and red bill. In the young these colours do not exist, but the 
bni is pale yellowish brown, and the plumagej^^andy-coloured. 
Length 5 inches, tarsus O'T"^. 
172. LoxiA cuRViROSTRis, Linn. The Common Crossbill. 
Favier only mentions having obtained this bird once near 
Tangier, " a specimenbeing picked up in a dying state in 1855.^* 
Although never having myself met with this Crossbill on 
either side of the Straits, I have seen undoubted Andalucian 
specimens. I regret to be unable to mention when or where 
it is to be looked for. 
173. CoccoTHRAUSTES VULGARIS, Brisson. The Common 
Hawfinch. 
Spanish. Cascanueces (Nutcracker). 
Favier states the Hawfinch to be " very rare near Tangier, 
having only met with two — one in 1836, the other in 1849." 
On the Spanish side of the Straits this bird is very 
common, and most plentiful in winter. Some nest in 
the Cork-wood in May ; and during the season of migration, 
they often frequent pine-woods, and are then rather shy and 
difficult to approach. About Cordova they are most abundant, 
and are there and at Seville exposed alive for sale at about 
one real apiece. I kept a pair, which I purchased at Seville, 
for some time ; but never could tame them. The hen bird 
at last killed her mate, having previously at regular intervals 
plucked him while living. 
I gave this amiable and domestic female to a bird-fancier at 
Gibraltar, much to his delight, but ultimately to his sorrow, as 
she vented her temper upon some other pet birds with which 
she was caged, and, in consequence, justly suffered capital 
punishment. 
* Since writing the above, an immature specimen of Carpodacus 
erythrinus, the Scarlet Grosbeak, has been obtained by Mr. H. Saimders 
from a collection at Malaga. The females and young males of this 
species are at first sight very likely to be mistaken for immature Green- 
finches (C. chloris), but are to be distinguished by the form of the bill 
and the two distinct yello\\nsh white bars on the wing. In this plumage 
it is doubtless the FringiUa incerta of Risso. Total length about 5-8 inches. 
