18 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



and is also said to be seen every year in the hawthorns of 

 the famous Phoenix Park at Dublin. In Scotland also it is 

 occasionally observed. Amongst European countries, it is 

 found in Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy, and 

 sometimes, though much more rarely, in Sweden, Denmark, 

 and Russia. 



The Hawfinch is very shy and cautious in its habits, 

 although, like many other birds, it is considerably more 

 approachable in winter. It feeds upon the fruits, seeds, and 

 berries of such trees as the hawthorn, plum, plane, cherry, 

 laurel, holly, and pine ; the strong hard beak with which the 

 bird is provided enabling it to crush the toughest shell or 

 covering with comparative ease. The Hawfinch associates 

 with its fellows in flocks, and in winter these flocks vary 

 considerably in the number of members, ranging from 

 twelve and fifteen up to between one hundred and two 

 hundred. When feeding, one or more of these birds may 

 generally be seen on some open bough or exposed branch, 

 keeping a pretty sharp look-out for unwelcome visitors. 



About April the Hawfinch chooses its mate, and 

 nesting operations are commenced without much loss of 

 time. A holly or hawthorn tree is generally selected ; but 

 although these have a decided preference, the branches of 

 the oak, apple, or horse-chestnut are not unfrequently 

 made use of. The nest itself is incompact, and is formed 

 to a large extent of lichens, intermixed with twigs of oak, 

 honeysuckle, or similar material ; it is lined with vege- 

 table fibres, small flexible roots, and a small quantity of 

 hair or feathers. Four to six eggs are laid, of a pale 

 olive-green, with spots of biackish-brown and streaks of 

 dusky grey; they vary, however, considerably in appearance, 

 some being entirely of a pale green colour. 



