Their Eggs and Nests. 1 1 9 



PINE GROSBEAK— (/>rr//?^/^ enucleator). 



Pine Bullfinch, Common Hawfinch. — Only a very 

 rare visitor in our islands. 



CROSSB I lA^—i^Loxia ciirvirostra). 



This is a bird which deserves a little notice at our 

 hands on two or three grounds. In its plumage it 

 varies more, according to sex or age, than perhaps any 

 other English bird in a state of nature. It is indeed 

 subject to almost startling dissimilarity. The peculiar 

 shape and action of the bill is also noteworthy, and 

 the strength of the muscles which move the mandibles 

 may be judged of by the powerful effect produced in 

 starting the scales of the strongest fir-cones. Again, 

 it has been repeatedly met with in this country in 

 large numbers ; and not only so, but at such seasons 

 as to render it almost positive that it must have 

 nested, or be nesting here : nay even females which 

 were obtained, showed, by the state of their plumage, 

 that they must have been so engaged : and yet until 

 comparatively recently, no authentic observation has 

 been recorded of the actual occurrence of its nest and 

 eggs. It is now well known to have bred in eight or 

 nine different English counties. The nest is made of 

 twigs below, with grassy bents upon such foundation, 

 bound together with wool and lined with hair. The 

 eggs seem to vary much in colour, showing a sensible 

 degree of resemblance to those of the Greenfinch, but 

 with a generally warmer tint, and spots of a much 

 more decided or dark red shade. — Fig. lb, plate IV, 



