276 
2 
© ad. mari similis sed sordidior et secundariis (mtimis exceptis) in pogonio externo cerulescenti-cinereis nec 
nigris, tectricibus alarum majoribus brunneo tinctis et macula gulari minus extensa. 
Adult Male (Spain, May). Forehead yellowish fawn-colour, gradually becoming yellowish brown on the 
hind crown; sides of the head pale sandy ochre, with a brownish tinge; a narrow line round the base 
of the bill, lores, and a large patch covering the chin and upper throat velvety black ; hind neck ashy 
grey, this colour forming a collar, which extends to the sides of the neck; back and scapulars dark 
chestnut-brown, rump fawn-brown, quills bluish black, with a large patch of white on the inner web, 
the inner primaries and secondaries glossed with purple; the fifth and succeeding primaries peculiarly 
widened and hooked at the tip; secondaries square at the tip; innermost secondaries brownish fawn ; 
primary coverts blackish; larger coverts white, except the innermost ones, which are fawn-colour ; 
lesser coverts chestnut-brown; central rectrices greyish brown, tipped with white, the remaining tail- 
feathers blackish, with the terminal half of the inner web white; underparts pale greyish brown, with a 
rosy fawn-coloured tinge; centre of abdomen and under tail-coverts white; bill bluish; iris greyish ; 
feet flesh-colour. Total length about 7 inches, culmen 0°85, wing 3°9, tail 2°5, tarsus 0°9. 
Adult Female (Hampstead, Middlesex, 20th April). Is duller in colour than the male; the black on the 
throat is less extensive; the white on the wing-coverts is tinged with greyish brown, and the outer 
webs of all but the innermost secondaries are ashy blue-grey. 
Young Male (Hampstead, June). Crown, nape, and sides of the head yellowish brown; upper parts dull 
yellowish chestnut-brown, the grey collar being absent; wings and tail as in the adult, but the white 
wing-coverts are intermixed with black; lores blackish brown; throat yellow, gradually becoming pale 
yellowish brown on the breast; flanks dull buffy white, rest of the underparts dull white; lower breast 
and flanks distinctly spotted and barred with dark brown; bill dull flesh; iris brownish grey; legs dirty 
brownish flesh. 
Young Female. Resembles the young male, but may be distinguished by being duller and having the outer 
webs of the secondaries blue-grey. 
Nestling (Staufen, Baden, June 10). A young bird taken out of the nest and sketched by me at once, is 
bare of feathers, except that on the head it has a large crest-like bunch of white down, and a similar 
bunch on the back. In colour it is pale flesh, the beak being, however, yellowish, except round the 
nostrils, where it has a greenish tinge. This bird could not have been more than a day or two old; but 
on revisiting the nest nine days afterwards I found the remaining young nearly feathered, and two flew 
out directly I touched the nest, and tried to hide in the grass and weeds. They nearly resembled the 
young bird above described, but had the tail very short, and remains of down in the plumage. 
Obs. On comparing a series of specimens from various localities I find that those from Northern Europe 
are duller in colour than others from the southern countries ; and our British bird is perhaps the dullest 
of all, though now and then one sees a specimen nearly as richly coloured as any from the south of 
Europe. The Japanese Hawfinch has been considered by Temminck and Schlegel to be fairly distin- 
guishable from our European bird; but they must have compared specimens from Japan only with 
exceedingly dull North-European examples ; for on comparing those in the collection of Mr. Swinhoe, 
from China and Japan, with specimens from Spain and Italy, I can trace no difference either in tinge 
of colour or in any way whatever. In the winter dress the Hawfinch differs in having the beak dull 
flesh-coloured, and the colours of the plumage are duller and browner, the head has lost the bright 
yellowish fawn tinge and is browner, and the underparts have become greyer, the rosy fawn tinge 
haying disappeared, 
