130 FRING1LLTD.E. 



says Mr. Doubleday, " appears to be the seed of the horn- 

 beam, (Carpinus betulus), which is the prevailing species 

 of tree in the forest : they also feed on the kernels of the haws, 

 plum-stones, laurel berries, &c, and in summer make great 

 havock amongst green-peas in gardens in the vicinity of the 

 forest." Amongst the peculiar characteristics of this bird, 

 Mr. Barclay notices its thick and powerful beak, formed for 

 breaking hard kernels, and fruit-stones. " The muscle," 

 he says, " by which this is effected, is wonderfully developed, 

 being turned backwards over the skull, which is ridged over 

 the eye to receive it, almost to the root of the beak. Their 

 bite is of course severe ; and I have frequently noticed the 

 ground, beneath the tree on which they have been feeding, 

 covered with twigs and leaves, cut off by their powerful beaks 

 as if with scissors." 



These birds are at most periods remarkably shy. " In 

 this trait," says Mr. Doubleday, " they exceed any land bird 

 with which I am acquainted ; and in open places it is almost 

 impossible to approach them within gunshot." In very se- 

 vere weather we have, however, noticed them to be far more 

 approachable, rendered bolder doubtless by scarcity of food ; 

 or (supposing these winter straggling flocks to be of foreign 

 birth), from their having been reared in remote or less 

 inhabited parts. 



A pair of these birds were for some time living in the 

 possession of J. Fletcher, Esq., of Ruxley Lodge, Surrey, 

 which we believe had been reared from the nest in that county. 

 The female, which survived her mate, was kindly lent to us 

 for some time in order to observe its habits. She was very 

 quiet and tame, and never while with us uttered any vocal 

 sound, but we observed that she often made a grinding harsh 

 noise with her beak, similar to that produced by the same 

 organ by some of the parrot tribe. 



The Hawfinch is a heavy looking and clumsy bird, far ex- 



