BIRDS' NESTS. 207 



CHAPTER XIV. 



GROUND VARIOUS, MARKED WITH SPOTS AND IRREGULAR LINES. 



H A WFIN CH . Coccothraustes vulgaris. 

 PLATE XVIII. FIG. 3. 



THE only nest of this bird which I have 

 ever seen was found high up in a young oak- 

 tree, the foundation being composed of twigs, 

 and all the remainder of the nest consisting of 

 the grey tangled lichen, which is found growing 

 on the branches of old trees. The whole was 

 very loosely put together, and seemed to show 

 that, expert though the Hawfinch is in cracking 

 the stones of cherries and haws with his pon- 

 derous beak, he does not possess much skill as 

 a weaver. It contained five eggs, of a very 

 light olive-green hue, with a few brown spots, 

 and numerous irregular lines of a lighter tint, 

 varying greatly in length, thickness, and direc- 



