NESTING-SERIES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 143 



No. IS. SNOW-BUNTING. (Plectrophenax nivalis.) 



Principally a cold-weather visitor to the British Islands, a few pairs 

 remaining to breed on the higher mountains of Scotland, The situation 

 chosen for the nest in the present instance was the steep side of a hill 

 overhanging a deep corrie, covered with loose boulders and granite 

 debris, locally known as a " scree." The nest, placed in a crevice 

 among the stones, was formed of dry grass, lined with deer's hair and 

 a few feathers of the Ptarmigan. The eggs, four to six in number, are 

 pale greenish white, spotted with red and dark purple. 



In order to shew the nest, it has been necessary to remove the stone 

 behind which it was hidden. 



Banffshire, 3700 feet elevation, June. 

 Presented by L. Hinxman W. E. Clarke, Esqrs. 



Nos. 19 & 2O. HAWFINCH. 



(Coccothraustes coccothraustes.) 



Though the habits of this species are so shy and retiring that its 

 presence may easily escape detection, it is a resident in Great Britain 

 and has been known to breed in every county in England, except 

 Cornwall. The nest, generally placed in trees overgrown with grey 

 lichen, such as old hawthorns, apple- and pear-trees, is built of twigs 

 mixed with grey lichens and lined with fine roots and a little hair. 

 The eggs, four or five in number, are laid in the end of April or early 

 in May, and only one brood is reared in the season. 



Norfolk, June. 

 Presented by Lord Walsingham. 



No. 21. GOLDFINCH. (Carduelis carduelis.) 



Generally distributed throughout the summer months over England 

 and Ireland, but rarer and local in Scotland. The majority are 

 migratory, leaving Great Britain in October and returning in April, but, 

 in mild winters, some individuals remain in England. About the 

 middle of May, the neat compact nest made of moss, etc., and lined 

 with fine down, feathers, or hair, is placed in the fork of a tree or in a 

 hedge. The eggs, from four to six in number, are greenish-white, 

 spotted and streaked with purplish-brown. Two broods are produced 

 in the year. 



