154 THE WOODLANDS. 



or, perhaps, a flight into some neighbouring garden. 

 One of the most singular and noticeable of the Finches 

 is the Hawfinch. 1 It is not usually considered a 

 common bird, and in some localities is certainly rare. 

 Many of the Finches almost all of them are to be 

 seen in the London bird-shops, but it is seldom that 

 the Hawfinch is in their company. In Epping Forest 

 this bird is to be seen throughout the year, feeding on 



~S: 



THE HAWFINCH. 



the seeds of the hornbeam and other berries, and 

 may be considered common. It is a poor songster, 

 but a good nutcracker, for which its large, hard, 

 powerful beak is admirably adapted. 



1 Fringilla coccothraustes. 



