peksident's address, 281 



Thomas Thompson, our much-respected Honorary Secretary, ex- 

 hibited a nest and eggs of the Hawfinch, Coccothraustes vulgaris, 

 taken on May 29th, 1884, at Winlaton. The nest was built 

 about fifty feet from the ground, in the higher branches of an 

 Oak. It was the second occasion for this to be noted. The first 

 was on May 23rd, 1884, near to the same place. The occurrence 

 of the Hawfinch breeding in the county of Durham has never 

 before been recorded. I have since been informed by Mr. 

 Thompson that he has in his collection a nest of the Hawfinch, 

 which was taken near Eiding Mill, in May, 1884. The nest 

 was built upon a Pear tree, about five feet fi'om the ground, on 

 a horizontal branch, and about nine inches from the bole. The 

 friend who sent him the nest saw one of the parent birds sitting 

 closely on the nest on the 9th of May, 1884. A week later the 

 eggs were broken and deserted. Mr. Thompson believes that 

 this is the first occasion of the Hawfinch having been observed 

 breeding in Northumberland. Mr. John Hancock, in his "Cata- 

 logue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham" gives the 

 following description of the Hawfinch. "This is a rare casual 

 visitant. Selby states- in his Catalogue that ' a few years ago 

 he saw one at Alnwick Castle, which was killed at Hulne Abbey, 

 and that two specimens were some time ago shot near Stockton- 

 on-Tees.' I have three examples which were shot at Streatlam 

 Park, one many years since, and two, a male and female, in the 

 winter of 1837. Several specimens were seen near Belsay Castle 

 in 1860 and 1862. In the former year three of them were shot, 

 and one taken alive. This beautiful species is not known to 

 have bred in either county."'^ 



After a short visit to the Abbey Church, where the crypt was 

 specially visited, the members returned to Newcastle, and ar- 

 rived there at nine o'clock, all much delighted with their visit 

 to one of the most beautiful and interesting spots on Tyneside. 



The Second Pield Meeting was held at Alston, for Cross Pell 

 and Hartside, on "Wednesday and Thursday, the 25th and 26th 



* Natural History Transactions of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-upon- 

 Tyne, Vol, VI., p. 51. 



