VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 463 
a stream at the lower end of Oakley Wood. In the autumn of 
1849 the species was frequently met with, but has not appeared 
since in such numbers in any part of the county. Mr. Macaulay 
saw a flock of about twenty in Gumley Lane, Nov. 15th, 1882. 
One in the Museum, taken at Thurcaston in 1881, was presented 
by Mr. J. Ponsford, who kept it in a cage until it died in 
July, 1883. 
Ligurinus chloris, Linn. Greenfinch (“Green Linnet”’).— 
Resident and commonly distributed in gardens and fields close to 
the town of Leicester. The eggs are very variable in size, shape, 
and colour. Occasionally as many as six are laid. 
Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas. Hawfinch.—Resident. Gene- 
rally distributed, but not common, except in certain seasons ; 
breeding occasionally. Harley says, “‘ During the winter seasons 
of 1830-1-2-8, the Hawfinch was abundant, and numbers were 
shot in many parts of the county.” The MS. Donation Book, 
Leicester Museum, records two specimens from Atherstone, July, 
1862. I received several others for the Museum in January, 
1881, from Sapcote, Cropston, &c. How common they become 
in certain seasons may be estimated by the fact that in the winter 
of 1883 Elkington had twenty-one brought to him on one day 
from the vicinity of Ansty, and during the past three years he 
believes he must have had sixty or seventy. In November, 1884, 
I purchased two specimens, and on February 23rd, 1885, Mr. 
Rowley purchased two others. All were males, and were from 
the vicinity of Groby and Ansty. Mr. Macaulay states that 
Sir George Beaumont, of Coleorton Hall, has Hawfinches 
breeding there every year, and on Aug. 4th, 1880, a young bird 
was picked up dead at Gumley. Mr. Ingram writes me, 
“Common in the Belvoir Woods, haunting large yew trees. It 
is shy, builds a slight nest; the young have been taken and 
reared.” A male, female, and five young, in the Leicester 
Museum, were presented by Mr. W. T. Everard, as having been 
taken from a nest in his garden at Bardon Hill, in June, 1867. 
Mr. T. Baker writes me, “Some eight or nine years ago a nest 
and eggs were taken from the top bough of a pear-tree in a 
garden opposite the Grammar School at Atherstone; both birds 
were shot at the same time.” 
Passer domesticus, Linn. House Sparrow. — Resident, and 
far too common, breeding everywhere. Subject to much variation 
