192 THE HAWFINCH. 



the throat ; the back is dark brown, changing into grey on the 

 rump ; the belly a dusky flesh-colour, which at the vent be- 

 comes white. The smaller wing coverts are black ; the larger, 

 white in front and brown behind, which produces a white spot 

 on the wings. The pen feathers are black, tipped with steel- 

 blue; the foremost have a large white speck on the inner 

 plume ; the hinder are so blunt at the tips as to give the ap- 

 pearance of having been clipped. The tail is black, but the 

 two centre feathers incline to ashen grey at the ends, and the 

 points of the outermost are white half-way up the inner plume. 



In the female the head, cheeks, and upper tail coverts are 

 reddish grey; the black of the throat, wings, and tail, is 

 tinged with brown ; the white spot on the wings is light grey, 

 and the lower part of the body is reddish grey, inclining to 

 white on the belly. 



Habitat. It inhabits the temperate portions of Europe and 

 Russia, and is very common in many parts of Germany, espe- 

 cially on mountains overgrown with red-beeches. It can hardly 

 be considered a bird of passage, as it returns home as early as 

 March. 



In confinement it is usually placed in a bell-shaped wire 

 cage, when it soon becomes tame. It may also be allowed to 

 range the room, if it have not too many companions and too 

 abundant a supply of food, in which case it is very quarrel- 

 some. 



Food. Besides the seeds of the beech, juniper, ash, and 

 maple, and the berries of the service tree and white thorn, 

 the Hawfinch is fond of cherries, the stones of which it easily 

 splits with its powerful beak, in order to get at the kernel. It 

 also eats sloes, linseed, hemp, cabbage, radish and lettuce seed. 



In confinement it may be fed with rape and hemp seed, and, 

 if allowed to range the room, with the second universal paste. 



Breeding. The nest is found in beech woods, or trees, or 

 high bushes, and on fruit trees in gardens. It is well built of 

 small twigs, and lined with very fine roots. The female lays 

 three to five eggs twice a year ; these are greenish ashen grey, 

 speckled with brown, and striped with dark blue. In wooded 

 districts these birds are often reared from the nest, and become 

 so tame as to follow their master, and protect him with their 

 strong beak against dogs and cats. Like the Bullfinch, they 

 may be accustomed to come and go at the word of command. 



