144 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



thorn woods in the Phoenix Park for this interesting 

 bird, and acquaint me with the result of their investiga- 

 tions. 



The eggs of the Hawfinch are said to differ from 

 those of all the other British finches. " They vary from 

 four to six, and are of a pale olive-green, spotted with 

 black, and streaked with dusky grey." The nest is 

 found in trees or bushes, and is said to resemble " the 

 Ringdove's flat platform of a nest." Mr. Dobbleday has 

 discovered that the Hawfinch breeds regularly in Epping 

 Forest, and Mr. Stevenson says that it is on the increase 

 in Norfolk. Mr. Ussher describes the Hawfinch as a 

 " rare and irregular winter visitor" to Ireland. 



GREENFINCH. 



Coccothraustes chloris ; Verdin ordinaire ; Grilnfink. 

 Green Linnet ; Green Grosbeak. 



Bill, flesh-colour ; legs, pale brown ; all the plumage, 

 green, variegated with yellow, which is remarkably light 

 in individuals ; sides and middle tail-feathers, greyish ; 

 tail, forked. Length, about six inches. 



The Green Linnet, as it is usually called in Ireland, 

 is one of our most common and least valued birds. Mr. 

 Hudson says that there are " but two attractive finches 

 of the homestead, the Chaffinch and the Greenfinch, and 

 that very little attention is paid to the latter." In 

 St. Patrick's Close I have seen little urchins come into 

 the dealer's shop, and heard them say, " Please, sir, a 

 penny bird ;" then from a long box, filled with crowd- 

 ing, huddling finches, one will be extracted, popped into 



