BRITISH HlRl)^ NESTS. 129 



The female is less brilliant, and her colours are 

 more mixed. 



Situation and Locality. In old lichen-covered 

 hawthorn bushes ; on the horizontal branches of 

 oaks, heads of pollards ; in holly bushes, firs, fruit, 

 and other trees, at varying heights, in gardens, 

 orchards, timbered commons, and plantations, pretty 

 generally, though not commonly, in all the coun- 

 ties south of the six northern. I have met with it 

 on Surrey commons, but never saw its nest in any 

 part of Yorkshire, where it is said to breed. 



Materials. - - Twigs, fibrous roots, and grass, 

 mixed with lichens, and lined internally with fine 

 fibrous roots, grass, and hair ; somewhat loosely 

 constructed. 



Eggs. Four to six, pale olive-green, varying to 

 pale reddish-brown, or greenish-grey, spotted with 

 blackish -brown, and irregularly streaked with dusky 

 grey. Size about *95 by *75 in. 



Time. May. 



Remarks. Resident, although its numbers are 

 increased in winter by Continental arrivals. Notes : 

 call, rendered by Bechsteiii as an unpleasant itszip, 

 uttered incessantly ; song, a light jingle, with 

 some clearer, shrill, and harsh notes like irrr. 

 Local and other names : Grosbeak Haw, Grosbeak, 

 Common Grosbeak, Black-throated Grosbeak. Sits 

 closely. 



HEDGE SPARROW. Also HEDGE ACCENTOK. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 five and a half inches ; bill of medium length, 

 almost straight, light brown at the base, and darker 

 at the tip. Irides reddish-brown. Crown and nape 

 dull bluish-grey, streaked with brown ; back and 

 j 



