Grosbeak in Greater Numbers than Supposed. 155 



{Loxia coecothraustes) , though still a scarce bird in Great 

 Britain, seems of late years becoming more plentiful. 

 At least, so it would appear in the Welsh bordering 

 counties, where not only do they show themselves in 

 winter, but throughout all the year, breeding and success- 

 fully rearing their young. I have had ample evidence of 

 this by having had their eggs brought me — which should 

 not have been done — and seeing the birds themselves in 

 all stages of feather change, from fledglings to the fullest 

 plumage ever attained. A remarkable bird is the haw- 

 finch, and a beautiful one too ; though what most strikes 

 the observer is its grand development of beak, alongside 

 which that of the bullfinch is as a bodkin to a crowbar. 

 Well does this justify its trivial name, grosbeak, as its 

 specific appellation, coccothraustes (berry-breaker), for no 

 shell or rind of berry could well resist its crushing power. 

 Hawfinch is equally or even more appropriate, since the 

 haw is certainly its preferred food ; not so much the pulp 

 of the fruit as the aromatic kernel inside the stone, which 

 last it can crush between its mandibles as though it were 

 but the thinnest of egg-shells. 



Daring one winter my gunman shot for me two or 

 three specimens, and could have obtained more had I 

 wished, or allowed it. As the haw crop has been un- 

 usually abundant, this may account for the greater abun- 

 dance of these finches ; and likely enough in years when 

 the former fails the birds will be absent too, going else- 

 where. 



One reason why the grosbeak is so little observed is its 

 very shy habit, for it is among the shiest of the Fringillidce. 

 In summer the foliage conceals it, while in winter, with 

 the trees stripped bare, it keeps among the higher 

 branches, even the tops of the tallest, and at such a dis- 



