47 



Griinfink, grilner Hdnfling. Greece: Fliiori. Helgoland: Kort Oilhl- 

 Kliltjer. Holland: Groenling. Hungary: Z'oldike. Italy: Verdone, Verdello. 

 Norway: Svenske, Gronfink, svensk Irisk. Poland: Dzivoniec. Russia: Zele- 

 nusclika. Sweden: Gronhdmpling, Gronfink, Svenska, Groning. 



Coccothraustes chloris (L.). Newton, ed. Yarrell, H, p. 105. Ligurinus 

 chloris (L.). Dresser, Birds of Europe, III, p. 567; Saunders, Man., p. 169; 

 Dresser, Man. Pal. Birds, p. 283. Chloris chloris chloris (L.). Hartert, 

 Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 61. 



Breeding Range: The cultivated and wooded districts of Europe, 

 except the Iberian peninsula (replaced by C. c. aurantiiventris], and the 

 north of Scandinavia and Russia. [Also Asia Minor, N. Persia and N. W. 

 Turkestan.] 



Generally distributed over the whole of Great Britain and Ireland, British 

 excepting the bare moorlands and mountain ranges; but does not appear ^^^^^• 

 to breed on the north west coast district of Ireland, the Outer Hebrides, 

 the north west coast of the Scottish mainland or the Shetlands, though 

 it now breeds freely in the Orkneys. In the Inner Hebrides it nests on 

 the larger wooded islands, such as Mull, Jura, etc. 



In Norway this species ranges up to about 65" N. lat., and has been p°°" 

 found breeding at Trondhjem's Fjord; but in Sweden its northern limit Europe, 

 appears to be 62° N., and in the Urals about 60°. Over the northern 

 part of its range it is a summer visitor, but in the British Isles and 

 southern Europe it is sedentary as a rule. Southward its range extends to 

 the islands of the Mediterranean and it is common throughout Italy and 

 the Balkan peninsula, breeding not only in the plains but also in the 

 mountains of Greece. 



Highly cultivated and well timbered districts, parks, gardens, etc., are Nest. 

 the favoured resorts of the Greenfinch during the breeding season, and here 

 it nests at times in such numbers that it almost appears to be sociable 

 in its breeding habits. I have known 15 to 20 nests in one high, straggling 

 hedgerow, not more than 150 yards in length; and frequently a clump of 

 evergreens in a garden will hold 5 or 6 nests. They are generally to be 

 found in shrubs and tall hedges, but also on the lower boughs of forest trees, 

 and among the outcrop from the trunk, and rarely among ivy or even 

 tall furze. The foundation consists of a few twigs, moss, bents, roots, etc., 

 closely interwoven, sometimes with wool; lined generally with finer roots 

 and hair, but occasionally with a profusion of feathers; and there is much 

 variation in size, as well as in the materials employed. 



Generally 4 — 6 in number, but occasionally 7 are found. The ground Eggs. 

 colour varies from dirty white to pale greenish blue, with rather sparingly 

 distributed small spots of lighter or darker reddish brown, occasionally a 

 streak or scrawl, and with underlying markings of paler violet or reddish 



