12 BRITISH BIRDS 



nseus) ; P. graculus (L.)]. More or less stationary in certain 

 parts of our S. and W. Coasts and Ireland. 



Bird. Length 16 in. Black with blue, violet, and green 

 gloss. Easily distinguished by the red legs and bill, the latter 

 curved. The beak of the young is at first straight, and is 

 coloured various shades of yellow and red till the first autumn 

 moult, when the adult colour is assumed. 



Nest. Place: holes and crevices in cliffs, also fissures or 

 ledges in caves. Occasionally holes in old buildings, lime- 

 kilns, mine shafts. Material : sticks, stems, roots lined with 

 wool, hair, &c. 



Eggs. Usually 3-5. White or cream to brownish marked 

 with reddish-brown shades and underlying lilac blotches and 

 spots. Av. size, 1*55x1 '10 in. Laying begins April-May. 

 One brood. 



(2) Family: Fringillidce. Subfamily: Fringillinee Finches 



9. Greenfinch, green-linnet [Chloris Moris clitoris (Linnaeus) ; 

 Ligurinus chloris (Linnseus)]. Resident and common in most 

 parts. 



Bird. Length 5J in. Recognised by the yellowish-green 

 of its plumage, the striking yellow on the wing quills and the 

 base of the tail quills, and by the stout bill. The yellow 

 parts are duller in the female, which has also the under-parts 

 chiefly olive-grey and the upper-parts browner. The young 

 have dark brown stripes both on olive-brown upper-parts and 

 the pale yellowish-green under-parts. 



Nest. In shrubs, hedges, trees. Material: twigs, moss, 

 roots, wool lined with roots, hair, feathers. 



Eggs. Usually 4-6. Whitish or pale greenish-blue ground 

 spotted with reddish-brown and with 

 underlying markings of pale violet or light 

 brown. Unmarked eggs occur. Av. size, 

 *80 x '57 in. Laying begins April-May. 

 Broods 2-4. 



10. Hawfinch [Coccothraustes coccothraus- 

 tes coccothraustes (Linnseus) ; C. vulgaris 

 Pallas]. Resident in woodland districts. 

 Rare, Ireland. 



Bird (Fig. 8). Length 7 in. Recognised 

 by the orange and ruddy browns of 

 its plumage, the huge beak, the horny 

 Fig. . pads inside it, the black throat and lores, 



and the shape of the tips of the inner 

 primaries (Fig. 9). Wing quills black with glossy blue tips. 



