HAWFINCH. 



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comparatively rare species first came under my notice about 

 the winter of 1825, but it was not till 1837 that I was aware 

 of their being resident, and rather numerous in the neigh- 

 bourhood. During the winter and early part of that year, four 

 or five of these birds were pretty constant visitors in my fa- 

 ther's garden, and others were occasionally observed flying over. 

 On the 17th of May, we discovered a nest situated in an 

 apple tree, in a retired part of the garden, about ten feet 

 from the ground ; and the old birds, though very shy, might 

 be occasionally observed about. The hen sat very closely 

 on four eggs, after I had secured the fifth for my collection, 

 and on the 3rd of June hatched one young bird only, which 

 left the nest on the 18th, but was not seen afterwards. . . . 

 Being anxious to ascertain whether this nest was only an 

 incidental one, or whether the bird constantly bred in the 

 neighbourhood, I started one evening (on the 24th of March) 

 to search in a spot which I knew to be a favourite resort 

 of the Hawfinches, situated on the borders of the forest, 

 abounding in a growth of lofty timber, interspersed with fine 

 old hawthorn and yew-trees. I was speedily rewarded by 

 the discovery of two nests, one containing three, the other 

 one or two eggs, both similarly situated about twenty feet 

 from the ground, amongst the forked boughs of the old haw- 

 thorns : we also observed the commencement of another nest 

 in a neighbouring tree, very similarly placed, and all within a 

 few yards of each other.". . . " During the autumn, we pretty 

 much lost sight of our interesting visitors, except their being 

 occasionally observed feeding in company with whitethroats 

 and some other birds, on the ripe berries of the mespilus, a fine 

 specimen of which tree stood near the house : but during the 

 following winter, that of 1837-8, which was remarkably se- 

 vere, a numerous colony frequented our garden, as many as 

 from twenty to thirty being generally seen in the morning, 

 feeding on the berries of a favourite holly. On the least 



