46 



and coarse roots Avith sometimes a few lichens; lined with fine roots, hair, 

 fibre, or in some cases entirely with pigs' bristles. Approximate size: 

 diameter 5-| — 6 in., depth 2 — 2-\ in., diameter of cup 34, depth 1 in. 

 Eggs. From 4 to 6 in number, but generally 5. They are very characteristic 



and often exceedingly handsome. The ordinary ground colour is a pale 

 bluish or greyish green, varying to pale slate colour and rarely to pale 

 creamy brown or warm buff. The markings consist of a few bold spots 

 and streaks of lighter or darker olive brown, sometimes almost black, with 

 faint underlying hair lines, blotches and streaks of purplish grey. Occasionally 

 the dark markings are wanting, and sometimes only small spots on a blue 

 ground are met vidth. 

 Breeding The Hawfinch is single brooded, and in the south of England eggs 



Season, jjjay \,q obtained from the end of April onward, and in the north 

 Midlands usually about the third week in May. Near Leipzig Rey found 

 fresh eggs from April 25 to June 20, but probably the last found nests 

 were second layings. In E. Prussia it nests at the end of May (Hartert). 

 Apparently there is not much difference between the time of breeding in 

 middle and southern Europe, for in Corsica Whitehead found fresh eggs 

 on May 16, and in Andalucia they breed in May, Avhile fresh clutches have 

 been taken in the sierras at the end of the month. In Italy however the 

 breeding season begins towards the end of April. The period of incubation 

 is about 14 days. 

 Measure- There is very great variation in size and shape, some eggs being round 



ments. oval, others elongated ovate or even subpyriform in shape. Average size of 

 100 eggs (52 measured by Rey and 48 by the author) 23.86 X 17.24 mm., 

 Max. 27.1 X 16.7 (Germany, Rey) and 22 X 19.5 mm. (Dorpat, Br. Mus.), 

 Min. 19.8 X 15.7 mm. (Epping, Br. Mus.). Average weight (52 eggs) 

 236 mg. (Rey). 



18. Crreeiifiiich, Chloris chloris (L.). 



Plate 10, fig. 17—21 (Germany). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. XXXVI, fig. 4, a— c. Hewitson, 

 I. Ed. I, pi. XVI; II. Ed. I, pi. XLIII, fig. 1; III. Ed. I, pi. LII, fig. 1. 

 Baedeker, Tab. 20, fig. 1. Taczanowski, Tab. LXIX, fig. 2. Seebohm, 

 Br. Birds, pi. 12; id. Col. Fig., pi. 56. Frohawk, Br. Birds, I, pi. IV, 

 fig. 120—125. 



Nest: 0. Lee, III, p. 48. 



British Local Names: Green Linnet, Greenie, Green 01 f. Welsh: 

 Aderyn Melyn. Scotland: Green Lintie. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Zvonek. Denmark: Gronirisk, Svensker. 

 Finland: Vihredpeipponen. France: Verdier, Verdun. Germany: Grilnling, 



