FINCHES. 45 



HAWFINCH. Coccothraustes vulyaris, Pallas. 



Yarrell, ii. p. 98 ; Harting, p. 29 ; Dresser, iii. p. 575 ; Seebohm, 

 ii. p. 57 ; Ibis List, p. 50; Loxia coccothraustes, Pulteney's 

 List, p. ii. 



The Hawfinch can only be regarded as an occa- 

 sional visitant, though it appears to be resident in 

 the adjoining county in the New Forest. Its shy 

 habits exempt it from the usual fate of showy birds. 

 Mr. W. Penney states that a pair once nested in 

 the garden at White's Place, Poole, and that one 

 was caught there in January 1881. Large flocks 

 arrived in the winter of 1872-73, when two were 

 taken alive at Upwey (W. Thompson), and one was 

 shot at Melbury Osmond (Rev. R. B. Roe). I have 

 records of others procured at Kimmeridge, What- 

 combe, Holt, Wimborne, Poole, Chettle, Affpiddle, &c. 

 A nest and eggs were found at Thorncombe, near 

 Blandford (Bosworth Smith). 



GREENFINCH. Coccothraustes chlorit, L. 



Tarrell, ii. p. 105; Harting, p. 29 ; Ligurinus clitoris, Dresser, 

 iii. p. 567 ; Ibis List, p. 49 ; Fringilla clitoris, Seebohm, ii. 

 p. 74; Loxia chloris, Pulteney's List, p. ii. 



A common resident, generally distributed, assem- 

 bling in flocks in winter. An unusual site for a nest 

 was a hollow on the top of a gate-post at Poxwell 

 in 1880. A curious circumstance occurred to me last 

 year (1886) in connection with a Greenfinch. While 

 riding fast through a narrow roadway, a Greenfinch 

 suddenly flew across, and meeting my horse's knee 

 or hoof while in the act of flying, was struck on the 

 head and flung to the off side, reversing the direction 



