58 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Plumage. Head and neck white, streaked with 

 blackish ; upper parts reddish brown, feathers having 

 paler edges. Primaries blackish. Tail rufous brown, 

 and very forked ; under parts rusty red, streaked longi- 

 tudinally with brown ; under wings whitish, with dark 

 patch conspicuous in flight. Bill horn-colour. Cere 

 and legs yellow. Length 25 in. Female, rather larger 

 and duller ; tail not so forked. Young pa^r, and more 

 mottled above and below. Nestling covered with white 

 down. 



Language, A shrill " whew-heh-heh-heh." 



Habits. Flight powerful, rapid, and gliding. Fond 

 of soaring at a vast height. The tail is incessantly 

 brought into action, performing the function of a rudder. 

 Although mainly a carrion-eater, it will pounce upon and 

 kill small mammals, birds, &c. 



Food. Carrion, garbage, small mammals, birds, 

 reptiles, and fish. 



Nest. April or May. One brood. 



Site. Usually in some tall tree ; occasionally on a 

 ledge of a cliff. 



Materials. Sticks and all kinds of rubbish ; lined with 

 wool, moss, &c. 



Eggs. Two or three. Dull bluish white, spotted 

 and blotched with reddish brown ; much like the 

 Buzzard's. 



HAWFINCH (Coccothraustes vulgaris). 



Decidedly local, but occurring in most countries ; 

 rarer in Wales, the West and the North ; rare in 

 Ireland. 



Haunts. Well-wooded districts ; seldom seen near 

 human habitations. 



Plumage. Lores, throat, and line round base of bill 

 black. Crown and cheeks reddish brown. Nape ash- 

 grey. Back dark reddish brown. Wings bluish black. 



