THE FINCH FAMILY. 73 



the road, perhaps to pick up gravel, and then as 

 quickly jerk themselves back to the hedge. 



The hawfinch is the quickest' and most suspi- 

 cious member of the finch tribes to be found in 

 Great Britain. In winter his large bill is a light 

 pinkish-brown, while in summer it changes to slate- 

 blue. His nest, compared with that of other birds 

 related to him, is simple in construction ; but as it 

 is of the bird I am writing, and not of his domestic 

 arrangements, I will not venture upon a description 

 of it. 



The greenfinch, called sometimes green grosbeak, 

 and more often green linnet, is one of our common 

 birds. His plumage shows shades of green, yellow, 

 and grey, with a touch of black. Of a less retiring 

 and suspicious nature than the hawfinch, he builds 

 his nest in gardens or shrubberies. Such confi- 

 dence is, however, often misplaced, for if found by 

 the gardener it is sure to be destroyed. Like the 

 sailor, who is said to whistle for a breeze, the green- 

 finch calls for one, flying to the top of a tree at mid- 

 day in the hottest summer, when other birds are 

 dumb, and calling out at intervals in long-drawn 

 notes, " Breeze breeze breeze." 



