4C0 



THE BLACK AND YELLOW (iROSBEAK. 



extremely wary is the Hawfinch, that to approach within gunshot is a very difficult 

 matter, and can seldom be accomplished without the assistance of a decoy-bird, or by 

 imitating the call-note, which bears some resemblance to that of a robin. It feeds chiefly 

 on the various wild Ijerries, not rejecting even the hard stones of plums and the laurel 



berries. In the spring, it is opt to 

 make inroads in the early dawn 

 upon the cultivated grounds, and 

 has an especial liking for peas, 

 among which it often works dire 

 havoc. 



It is a gregarious bird, as- 

 sociating in flocks varying in 

 number from ten to two hundred, 

 and always being greatest after 

 the breeding season. According 

 to ]Mr. Doubleday, it is not mi- 

 gratory, but i-emains in England 

 throughout the year, Epping Forest 

 being one of its chief strongholds, 

 as it abounds in berries of various 

 kinds, is within a reasonable dis- 

 tance of cultivated grounds and 

 affords an excellent retreat. When 

 in the forest, the bird generally 

 perches upon the extreme top of 

 some lofty tree, from whence it 

 keeps so complete a watch that 

 hardly a weasel could steal upon 

 it without being perceived and its 

 presence reported by an alarm 

 note, which is perfectly under- 

 stood not only liy other Grosbeaks, 

 but by all the feathered and some 

 of the furred tribes. 



The nest of the Hawfinch is 

 not remarkable either for ele- 

 gance or peculiarity of form. It is 

 very simply built of slender twigs, 

 bits of dried creepers, grey lichens, 

 roots, and hair, and is so carelessly 

 put together that it can hardly be 

 moved entire. Tlie eggs are from 

 four to six in number, and their 

 colour is very jiale olive-green, 

 streaked with grey and spotted 

 with black dots. The birds pair 

 in the middle of April, begin to build their nests about the end of that month, and 

 tlie young are hatched about the tliird week in May. 



The colour of the adult male Grosbeak is briefly as follows : The lioad and nape of 

 the neck are fawn colour, deepening towards the shoulders and fading into grey on tlie 

 other portions of the neck, and the chin and throat are velvety black. The upper part of 

 the body is chestnut-brown, and the wing-coverts are variegated with white, black, and 

 fawn. The primary feathers of the wing are deep blue-black, white on the inner webs. 

 The upper tail-coverts are fawn, and the tail itself is black and white, with the exception 

 of the two central feathers, which are greyish brown, tip]ie(l witli wliite. Tlie sides of the 

 neck, tlie bivast, abdomen, and whole of the under }):nts are brown of a lighter and paler 



BI,.\CK .\ND VELT.OW GROSBEAK.— rocvofftrmufrs me!a>wxanthiis. 



