176 BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



The Hawfinch, excited by gales of the spring, 

 His gratulant notes was heard also to sing. 



dibles of the bill are booked and turned different ways, so that 

 they do not meet at the point. The plumage of the male va- 

 ries from a beautiful red to orange colour on the head, neck, 

 breast, back, and rump ; wing coverts rufous brown. Females 

 generally a dull olive green on the parts where the mate is red. 

 It does not breed in this country, but is often found in our fir 

 plantations from June to the end of the year. They inhabit 

 permanently Germany, Switzerland, the Alps, and Pyrenees; 

 often migratory in those countries. They build on the tops of 

 pine trees ; eggs whitish, with red spots. Feeds on the seeds of 

 the pine, apples, &c. Notwithstanding Buffon considered the 

 formation of the bill of this bird as an " erreur de la nature/' sub- 

 sequent observation has demonstrated that it is peculiarly suit- 

 ed to the food on which it feeds, namely, the cones of the pine. 

 In truth the more the structure and habits of birds are exa- 

 mined, the more they will be found exactly "fitted to their state 

 and place.'' 



The Cardinalis, or Cardinal-Grosbeak, is crested, red. 

 Inhabits North America; nearly eight inches long ; sings very 

 finely in spring and summer; feeds on grain and Indian corn, 

 which it hoards up. 



The Sulphurata, or Brimstone-Grosbeak, is olive brown ; 

 throat and belly pale yellow. Inhabits in flocks the Cape of 

 Good Hope ; five inches and three quarters long; builds a pen- 

 dulous nest. 



The Philippina f or Philippine-Grosbeak, is brown, be- 

 neath yellowish white. Another variety with tail and quill 

 feathers greenish brown, edged with yellow. The female red- 

 dish below. The first inhabits the Philippine islands, the se- 

 cond Abyssinia ; five and a half inches long; constructs a curious 

 nest with the long fibres of plants or dried grass, and suspends 

 it by a cord nearly half an ell long from the end of a slender 



