PASSERINE BIRDS. 139 



are necessary as spring returns. The eggs, which are five in number, are larger than those of the 

 generality of Sparrows, and of a greyish or dirty white, spotted and streaked with slate colour, the 

 markings being most numerous at the broad end. We are unable to speak with certainty as to whether 

 both parents brood, although they certainly co-operate in taking care of their progeny. 'When the 

 young first leave the nest they associate in flocks, and fly about the country until the autumn, the 

 parents, in the meantime, employing themselves in rearing a second and third family. Rock Sparrows 

 subsist principally upon insects, seeds, and berries. In Spain and Germany they are often to be 

 seen hopping through the dirt in the streets, and in the former country are brought to market spitted 

 upon a stick. They are easily obtained by the help of nets or limed twigs, but are so war)' that it is 

 difficult to bring them down with a gun. In spite of its shyness this species is very well adapted for 

 the cage, and will become so tame as to take its food out of the hand of its master. 



The HAWFINCHES (Coccothrausta) have usually been classed amongst the true Finches 

 (Fringilla), but in our opinion they should be regarded as the type of a peculiar family. The birds 

 belonging to this group are recognisable by their compact body, long wings, comparatively short tail, 

 short, powerful legs, and above all by their strong, rounded, thick, and pointed beak, furnished with a 

 longitudinal groove within the upper mandible, behind which there is a transverse ridge, placed directly 

 above a corresponding depression in the lower mandible, surrounded by a thickened margin. The 

 plumage is rich, somewhat lax, and, though striking, not brightly coloured. The members of this 

 group are found in all parts of the world — indeed, some species are extremely numerous, but our 

 knowledge of their mode of life and habits is but limited. 



THE GREEN GROSBEAK. 



The Green Grosbeak (Chloris hortensis), or Greenfinch, as it is generally called, must be 

 regarded as forming, as it were, a bond of connection between the present family and the Goldfinches. 

 This bird has a strong conical beak, somewhat compressed at its edges, with a small ball-like elevation 

 in the interior of the upper mandible. The feet are longer than those of the true Hawfinch, and the 

 body elongated, but powerful. The plumage is principally of a green colour, that of the male being 

 olive-green on the upper part of the body, the lower portion greenish yellow, the wings ash-grey, the 

 tail black, the anterior quill-feathers of the wings and the five exterior tail-quills beautifully marked 

 with yellow. The beak is of a yellowish flesh colour, and the eye brown. The plumage of the male 

 is duller during the winter, owing to the grey with which the feathers are then bordered. The coat of 

 the females never loses this sombre tint : the young are distinguishable by the dirk streaks upon their 

 bodies both above and below. 



The Greenfinch inhabits the whole of Europe, and a large portion of Asia, with the exception of 

 the most northerly countries : it is also numerous in Spain, but quite unknown in Siberia. Everywhere 

 it is found about pasture-land, and such localities as are at no great distance from human habitations ; 

 it avoids all thickly-wooded places, and usually lives in pairs or small parties, the latter increasing 

 into large flocks only during their passage from one country to another, at which times they associate 

 freely with many other small birds of kindred habits. The Greenfinch generally selects some small 

 coppice or garden for its residence, and passes the entire day in flitting from place to place, or upon 

 the ground, whither it resorts in search of food. At night it seeks a shelter in the branches of some 

 thickly-foliaged tree. Although clumsy in appearance it is a lively, active bird, light and easy in all 

 its movements. Whilst perched the plumage is generally allowed to hang heavily round the body ; 

 but at times the bird stands erect, and lays its feathers so close and flat as to present an entirely 

 different exterior. It hops with facility when upon the ground, and its course through the air is 



