PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 65 



inland and northwards. This immigration is at its height in October. In spring 

 they return to their breeding grounds in Central or Western Europe by the same 

 route, and it is doubtless these emigrants which are recorded in April from light- 

 stations on the part of the coast in question (cf. Brit. Assoc. Report, 1896, p. 456 ; 

 and B. O. C. Migration Reports, i. p. 125, ii. p. 178). Movements between Great 

 Britain and Ireland occur at the same season, but there appear to be two routes ; 

 an east to west one across the Irish Sea, especially between Anglesey and Co. 

 Dublin, and a north-westerly one across St. George's Channel (cf. Brit. Assoc. 

 Report, 1896, p. 460). There is also some evidence of intermigration between 

 England and countries to the south. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place: usually in shrubs, trees, and hedges, 

 rarely in creepers, about 4-8 feet as a rule above the ground. Nest : a foundation of 

 twigs, moss, roots, and sometimes wool, neatly lined with fine roots and hair, and 

 occasionally with feathers. (PL m.) It is built by the hen, the male, according to 

 Naumann, occasionally helping. The eggs, usually 4-6, rarely 7, in number, are 

 rather sparingly spotted with reddish brown and occasionally a streak at the big 

 end, on a dirty white or pale greenish blue ground, with underlying markings of 

 pale violet or light brown. Some eggs are quite unmarked. (PL B.) In character 

 they resemble those of the linnet, but are larger, and 101 eggs average "80 x '57 in. 

 [20'25 x 14'52 mm.] in size. Laying begins sometimes in April but generally in 

 May. The hen incubates, but the male has been seen to relieve her (Naumann). 

 Period of incubation 13-14 days. The young remain in the nest about two weeks 

 (S. E. Brock in litt.). Broods 2-3, as a rule, but Lilford (Birds of Northamptonshire) 

 says that 4 occasionally occur. [F. c. R. j. F. B. K.] 



5. Food. Seeds, especially of turnips, radish, mustard, sprouts ; also char- 

 lock, maize, wheat, berries. The young are fed by both parents on insects and 

 macerated seeds. [F. B. K.] 



6. Song Period. From about February to August. [F. B. K.] 



HAWFINCH [Coccothrdustes coccothraustes (L.) ; C. vulgaris, Pall. 

 Common-, blackthroated-, or haw- grosbeak, cherry-finch, cow-bird, berry- 

 breaker. French, grosbec ; German, Kirschkernbeisser ; Italian, frosone]. 



i. Description. Recognised by the peculiar bill-hook shape of the tips of 

 the inner primaries (Fig. 4), the huge beak, the horny pads inside it, the black 

 throat and lores, and the orange and ruddy browns of its plumage. Length 7 in. 



I 



