12 
Fig. c. The Bullfinch (Pyrrhula vulgaris) is 
better known than the last species, and is met with 
throughout Europe, as far north as Central Sweden. 
It is found in woods, and in the more northern 
parts of Europe, is only a summer visitant. 
The species of Coccothraustes have the largest 
and most powerful beaks of all the Finches. The 
lower mandible is furnished with a protuberance in 
order to shell hard seeds, 
Fig. d. The Greenfinch (Coccothraustes chloris) 
is a strongly-built bird, with a large head and a short 
fail. It is found in Europe, North Africa, and 
Northern Asia, and is generally to be seen on the 
edges of woods, near meadows where poplars and 
willows grow, on which it likes to build its nest. It 
is a migratory bird in some parts of the Continent, 
though a permanent resident in England. It feeds 
chiefly on oily seeds. 
Fig. e. The Hawfinch (Co- 
cothraustes vulgaris) has a beavy, 
clumsy appearance, but flies well, 
and climbs actively about the 
trees. It is common in many 
parts of Europe. 
In the genus Emberiza, the beak, as in Cocco- 
thraustes, is adapted to the food of the birds. They 
feed on insects and seeds, which they pick up from 
the ground, and the upper mandible of their beak is 
provided with a knob on the palate for cracking seeds. 
Fig. f. The Yellow Hammer (Zméeriza citrin- 
ell) is the most familiar species of this genus. In 
winter it comes near houses, and in summer it is to 
be seen everywhere in the woods and fields. — It 
makes its nest twice a year in low bushes and 
hedges, and during this time the silvery note of the 
male is constantly to be beard. The male is more 
brightly coloured than the female, in which the 
colour inclines towards greyish brown, varied with 
olive-green, 
Fig. g. The Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana) is 
smaller than the Yellow Hammer, and less brightly 
coloured. The yellow on the throat and upper part 
of the breast is ofa light sulphur-colour. The upper part 
of the head and the neck are ashy grey, the belly 
and the lower tail-coverts are rusty-yellow, and the 
back and shoulders are rust-coloured. The Ortolan 
inhabits Central and Southern Europe, and is 
esteemed a great delicacy. 

of Hawlinch. 
Egg 
(Plate XV.) 
Fig. a. The Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) is 
a native of Southern Europe, but migrates into Cen- 
tral Europe, where it is rather a scarce bird, though 
it sometimes breeds in hedges. It is one of the 
handsomest birds of the genus; the head, the back 
of the neck, and the breast are olive-green, the 
cheeks are yellow, and the chin and borders of the 
cheeks of a fine brownish black, the rump dirty 
olive-green, and the back and wings rusty-red. 
(Plate XVI.) 
Fig. f. The Common Bunting (Zmderiza mi- 
aria) is the largest of the genus, and is generally 
to be seen upon the ground. It is found throughout 
Europe, and remains with us throughout the year, 
but in colder regions it migrates southward during 
the winter months, 
(Plate XV.) 
_ Fig. b. The Snow Bunting (Flectrophanes 
nivalis) exhibits a transition to the larks. It has a 



spur on the hind toe, long narrow wings, and a 
short tail, and is generally seen upon the ground. 
It inhabits Northern Europe, Asia and America, and 
migrates to the south in great flocks during winter. 
The younger birds are of a dark greyish brown on 
the head, back and wings, and dirty white beneath, 
suffused with rusty brown. As they grow. older, 
the pure white of the under-surface of the body con- 
trasts much more strongly with the deeper brownish 
black of the upper-surface. 
The genus /77zgilla and its allies include some 
of the best singers and most favourite cage birds 
among the Finches. They are finely formed, and 
some of them are very prettily coloured. They have 
a conical pointed beak, which varies in length and 
breadth in different species. 
Fig. c. The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 
is by far the commonest and most ubiquitous of all 
our birds, forcing itself under our notice everywhere, 
even in the heart of London. It feeds on almost 
everything, and naturalists are by no 
means agreed as to whether the ser- 
vice which it renders in destroying 
insects is greater or less than the 
damage which it undoubtedly inflicts 
upon many of our field and garden 
crops. It was introduced into North 
America in the hope that it would destroy injurious in- 
sects, but instead of this, it is now regarded in that 
country as a most troublesome pest. 
Fig. d. The Chaffinch (7vingilla coelebs) is a 
very common bird in many places, and is much 
admired for its handsome colours and cheerful song, 
which includes several tones. The = 
male is very handsome in his bridal 
dress; the front of the head is black, 
the back of the neck slaty-blue, the 
back reddish brown above, and the 
sides brown, the throat and breast Egg of Chaffinch. 
reddish brown, with white and yellowish white bands 
across the wings. This bird is found through Europe, 
and in many parts of Africa and Asia. 
Fig. e. The Mountain Finch (/77xgtlla mounte- 
Sringilla) is found in the north of Europe, and mi- 
grates to the south in immense flocks. It is quite 
as handsomely coloured as the last species, especially 
in autumn, when the male acquires his shining blue- 
black back and head, with brownish borders to the 
feathers, and his beautiful orange-coloured breast. 
Like the last species, they build very. skilfully-woven 
nests in the thick branches of birch and_ pinetrees. 
In summer, they nourish themselves and their young 
with insects, and in autumn and winter they feed 
on oily seeds, especially beech-mast, of which they 
are extremely fond. They are very quarrelsome 
birds. 
Fig. f. The Snow Finch (Montifringilla nivalis) 
inhabits mountainous regions, on the borders of the 
eternal snow. Here it lives in large flocks, feeding 
on insects and seeds, and making its nest in the 
clefts of the rocks. The head and neck of the male 
are ashy grey, the back and shoulders are brown, 
the chin whitish, the throat black in summer, the 
breast greyish white, and the wing-feathers black, 
except those in the middle, which are snow-white, 
while the tail is black in the middle, and white on 
the sides. 

Egg of House 
Sparrow, 

(Plate XVL.) 
Fig. a. The Goldfinch (/7ingilla carduelis) is 
the most beautiful of all our smaller birds. It is 

ee 
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