76 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



great flocks of these birds are to be seen on the East Coast, uttering their 

 call-note " Hut-hut-hut " as they make their way southwards, ever south- 

 wards. In addition to the call-note, the Goldcrest has a very bright, merry 

 little song, though it consists of but two notes uttered five or six times, ending 

 in a rapid trill. The bird haunts practically every wood of conifers firs, pines, 

 or yews and builds a beautiful cup of a nest, which is generally suspended 

 from three or four of the slender twigs. In addition, note that the nest is of 

 green moss and spiders' webs, lined with feathers. The little eggs are whitish 

 or ochreous, with tiny red-brown spots. The bird feeds on spiders, beetles, 

 aphides, and other insects, and (during autumn and winter) on American 

 blight. The deserted nest I have often found tenanted by humble-bees. 



Goldfinch. Resident and migrant. This charming bird is recognized by 

 the flash of yellow on the wing, the crimson face, white cheeks, and black 

 head. The back is a beautiful fawn-brown, which shades off into white beneath. 

 The hen is duller, the crimson patch not extending behind the eye. The young, 

 known as " Greypates," have a brown head. 



The nest is a neat structure of moss, lichens, and roots, lined with hair, 

 wool, etc., in trees, shrubs, and hedges ; an apple tree is a favourite site. 

 The eggs four to six pale bluish white, spotted purple and brown. In the 

 autumn flocks of goldfinches may be seen on the common lands plucking the 

 thistle seeds. The song is a delightful, varied composition, with a number of rich 

 skylark notes, rattled off with tremendous " vim." The call-note is a defiant 

 whistle " Tu-whittu." The antics of the cock when courting are very notice- 

 able. He turns rapidly from side to side, with tail spread out, so as to display 

 himself to his mate " from both points of view," at the same time uttering his 

 persuasive call-notes. 



Greenfinch often called GREEN LINNET a resident and migrant. This bird 

 is recognized by his general green colour, the yellow patches on the wings 

 and base of the tail, and his heavily built, bulldog head, shoulders, and beak. 

 The hen is duller in colour. This is one of the few birds which sing (if you 

 can call it so) on the wing. The song is not melodious, consisting of a few 

 low notes. The noticeable note is a long-drawn " wheeze "- " Twee-ee-ee " 

 which the bird will repeat for hours from its covert in the bushes or planta- 

 tions. At the same time I should like to state that I had a pair of green- 

 finches, the male of which, very early in the morning, and only then, sang a 

 very full and melodious song, not unlike but richer than the Goldfinch's. 

 Greenfinches appear to like to build near houses a shrubbery is a favourite 

 haunt and here, or in the adjoining hedgerow, you may find their nest, larger 

 than but like the Chaffinch's, though untidier of twigs, moss, and grass, lined 

 with hair and feathers. 



The eggs four to six are whitish, with a tinge of green-blue, and with 

 purplish spots and markings. 



Hawfinch so called from its habit of eating the seeds of haws. This is the 

 largest of the finches, and though at one time scarce, is now on the increase, 



