THE HAWFINCH 87 



weather. The Greenfinch has another note which is heard most 

 frequently, but not exclusively, in spring. This is a single plaintive 

 chirp which may be easily imitated by human whistling ; it re- 

 sembles somewhat one of the call-notes of the Canary-bird or Brown 

 Linnet, and, being full and sweet, harmonizes with the woodland 

 chorus far better than the monotonous croak described above. 

 Another of the notes is a double one, and closely resembles that 

 of the ' Pee-wit ', hence it is called in some places ' Pee-sweep '. 

 The Greenfinch builds its nest, when not among evergreens, in 

 some tall thick bush either in a hedge or coppice. Less neatly 

 finished than that of the Chaffinch, it is nevertheless a beautiful 

 structure. It is composed externally of a framework of light twigs 

 and roots, interleaved with moss and wool, to which succeeds a 

 denser layer of the same materials lined with hair. It lays five 

 eggs, which are of a light grey colour, almost white, variously 

 speckled with purple, and of a long shape. In winter, Greenfinches 

 congregate in large numbers, and feed together on the seeds of 

 various weeds in stubble fields, or not unfrequently they descend 

 on newly-sown fields of wheat, where they are very troublesome. 

 If disturbed, they rise simultaneously, fly rapidly only a few feet 

 from the ground to another part of the field, but before they alight 

 wheel about several times with singular precision of movement, 

 disappearing from the sight and reappearing according as the dark 

 or light portion of their plumage is turned towards the spectator ; 

 and by this peculiarity they may be distinguished from flocks of 

 of other small birds at a great distance. If repeatedly disturbed, 

 they alter their tactics, and take refuge in the top branches of the 

 neighbouring trees until their persecutor has turned his back, 

 when they return to the charge with the same perseverance which 

 they display in the repetition of their summer song. These flocks, 

 probably, are composed of individuals which have banded together 

 in some more northern climate, and emigrated southwards in quest 

 of food ; for smaller parties, either unmixed, or associated with 

 Sparrows, Chaffinches, and Buntings, frequent our farmyards and 

 gardens in undiminished numbers. 



THE HAWFINCH 



COCCOTHRAUSTES VULGARIS 



Lore, throat, and plumage at the base of the bill black ; crown and cheeks 

 reddish brown ; nape ash-grey ; back dark reddish brown ; wings black, 

 great coverts white ; some of the quills truncated at the extremity ; 

 under parts Ught purplish red ; tail short. Length seven inches. Eggs 

 light olive-green, with a few brown spots and numerous irregular lines 

 of a hghter tint. 



Judging from its conformation, one would, without knowing any- 

 thing of the habits of this bird, pronounce it to be a professor of 



