Hawfinch. 199 



Greenfinches are in the habit of returning regularly to the same 

 evergreen shrubs in which they roost ; and Selby has pointed 

 out that, before they retire for the night, they quit the company 

 of their associates, and make many ringing flights round their 

 resting station. This, however, is not peculiar to this species 

 only, but is a habit common to several other kinds of birds.* 



83. HAWFINCH (Coccothraustes vulgaris). 



When once seen will not be confounded with any other species, 

 its large horny beak giving it a remarkable appearance ; and this 

 thickness of bill renders necessary a large size of head and a 

 stout neck, which give the bird a top-heavy clumsy look, making 

 the body and limbs seem disproportionately small. It occasion- 

 ally visits us in the winter, when it may be seen consuming 

 greedily the berries of the whitethorn ; the stones of which it 

 breaks with apparent ease by means of its strong and massive 

 bill ; and it is remarkable that while it feeds on the kernels of 

 plums, cherries, haws, etc., it rejects the pulpy fruit which sur- 

 rounds them. It is of most shy retiring habits, and hence 

 escapes general observation even where it is not uncommon : for 

 this is one of the very few species of our British birds which has 

 been of late years, by the testimony of those most qualified to 

 judge, decidedly on the increase. It has also of late been dis- 

 covered to remain and breed here in several localities, among 

 which favoured spots we have been enabled (through the diligence 

 of a member of Marlborough College) to include this county ;t 

 for Mr. Reginald Bosworth Smith informed us that 'it frequents 

 Savernake Forest, and nearly every spring three or four or even 

 five nests are met with ; they select the thickest hawthorn bushes, 

 -and build their nests close to the top, where they are quite con- 

 cealed.' In addition to this statement of its permanent residence 

 here, I have notices of its occurrence in 1845 near Devizes from 

 Mr. Elgar Sloper ; of its being frequently killed in North Wilts, 

 and brought to Mr. Withers for preservation ; of its appearance 



* gee Zoologist, for 1857, p. 5681. 



t Fourth edition of Yarrell's ' British Birds,' vol. ii., p. 107. 



