128 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



flesh of fruit, but only the kernels of the stones, of which it 

 swallows small pieces, for the purposes of trituration. Mr. 

 JeflPery, in his p. n., remarks that "in February 1873, this 

 species was plentiful in a cherry orchard near Chichester. 

 Twelve were sent in one day to a bird-stufFer in that town.'^ 

 One met its death by flying against the lantern of the Bell 

 Tout lighthouse, near Beachy Head, in December 1863 

 (Zoologist, p. 9043). Several were killed at Eastbourne. 



GREENFINCH. 



Coccothraustes chloris. 



This species is very common, and resident throughout the 

 county, frequenting our gardens and hedgerows, breeding in 

 the shrubberies every spring, and, like the Chafiinch, doing 

 considerable damage to the seeds sown, or coming up, in the 

 kitchen garden. It nests in April, using green moss, wool, 

 and fibrous roots, and, for the lining, finer roots, hair, and a 

 few feathers. In winter it gathers on the stubbles and 

 hedgerows in large flocks, more especially on those between 

 the Downs and the sea, flying so close together that, in my 

 boyhood, I several times killed as many as twenty at a shot. 

 It resorts, at this time of year, to the farm-buildings and 

 stack-yards, as well as to the sea-beach and dry mud-flats, 

 where it feeds on the seeds of the rough herbage, among 

 which it roosts. The Greenfinch is often caught with other 

 birds in the sparrow-nets, and is much used in the cruel 

 ^^ sport ^^ of trap-shooting. Its monotonous call is heard 

 early in the spring, but it does not sing till the nest is com- 

 menced, or finished, and then it continues to do so till after 

 midsummer, often from the top of a high tree, occasionally 



