94 



NIGHTINGALE. 

 Case 114. 



Those unaccustomed to a country life' are often 

 surprised that this noted songster is not a finer or 

 more conspicuous bird. 



The first arrivals usually take place in the 

 beginning of April. The song is then continued 

 for a month or six weeks, after which it is heard 

 no more, the bird simply giving notice of its presence 

 by its curious croaking note of warning to its 

 young. 



Great numbers are annually taken in traps on 

 their first appearance in the spring, though but a 

 small percentage of these are ever reared. A few 

 I suppose occasionally sing in captivity ; but all 

 that I have ever seen were such a wretched mockery 

 of the bird in the state in which I have been used 

 to watch it as to be positively painful to look at. 



The specimens in the case were -taken near 

 Plumpton in Sussex in April, 1866. 



HAWFINCH. 

 Case 115. 



The Hawfinch is frequently seen in consider- 

 able flocks in the south of England during winter. 

 I have also noticed small parties at the same 

 season in the midland counties, but have never 

 myself met with this species in Scotland, though it is 

 stated to have been occasionally observed. 



Their roughly-built nest is commonly placed in 

 fruit trees in gardens and is usually so slightly 

 constructed that without close investigation it 

 might readily be taken for a small collection of 

 rubbish that had gathered among the branches. 



Though feeding partly on beetles and other 

 insects these birds are most destructive to peas ; not 

 content with eating what they require they amuse 



