BIRDS 77 



and is resident in woodlands throughout the country, but rare in Ireland. 

 It is a heavily built bird, with a huge beak (from which its old name of 

 "GROSBEAK" came), and can be distinguished by its general build, the white 

 (a good deal) showing in tail during flight, and chestnut-brown of the upper 

 parts. The throat is black. 



The call-note is a sharp " click " a " clinking " note like " Krupps," 

 heard during flight, and unmistakable. The song is a soft and simple one of 

 low, plaintive notes, not unlike those of the Bullfinch. 



The nest is a characteristic, built first of a layer of twigs, on which is a 

 shallow cup of bents, fibres, etc., lined with rootlets, hair, grass, etc., and is 

 found in bushes, trees, and hedges. The eggs are large and handsome, bluish 

 green, with bold marks and streaks of olive-brown. 



The food consists of the kernels of hawthorn berries (hence " Hawfinch "), 

 cherries, plums, yews, peas, etc., the Hawfinch having a pair of remarkable 

 horny plates, or crushing pads, inside the bill, with which he can break 

 most kernels. It is a common sight to see him adroitly bisect a cherry 

 stone " at one bite," the two halves falling neatly from each side of that 

 heavy bill. 



Kingfisher. Recognized by the brilliant blue of the upper and chestnut- 

 red of the under parts, the long beak, stumpy tail, and red feet. This bird is 

 resident in the British Isles, but scarcer in Scotland. The nest is generally 

 in the steep bank of a stream, though I have seen its tunnel some distance 

 away in a bank and a sand-pit. The tunnel is some 3 feet long, with a rounded 

 chamber at the end, and slopes slightly upward. The nest is often used in 

 consecutive years. The eggs are laid on the bare earth, but, as incubation 

 proceeds, the fish-bones which the birds eject accumulate until they form a 

 considerable amount of debris round the eggs : hence the popular fallacy 

 that the bird builds its nest of fish-bones. The eggs (six or seven in number) 

 are almost round, a pure glossy white, and are laid in early April ; I have 

 known them laid in mid-March. The bird feeds on fish, and also on aquatic 

 insects, slugs, and snails. The note is a shrill " H'wee h'wee" or "Peep- 

 peep," uttered in flight. 



The feet of the Kingfisher are very small, the front toes being united in 

 a common sheath (syndactylous). The sexes are indistinguishable in colour. 

 Though popularly supposed to use the burrow of a water vole, the birds 

 always dig their own tunnel, except when utilizing a sand martin's " dug-out." 



Linnet often called " BROWN LINNET "a common bird, resident with us ; 

 a favourite cage bird, easily tamed, and with a very fascinating song. It is 

 distinguished, in the male, by its crimson forehead and breast in the summer ; 

 chestnut back; forked tail with white edging; the quills black, edged with 

 white, which shows as a white streak when the wings are closed. The female 

 is browner and duller, without the crimson colour. 



It has a sweet, varied song much prized in captivity a call-note which 

 consists of " a rapid chuckle followed by a twitter," and a quaint alarm note 



