During autumn the Hawfinch vifits this country in fmall 

 flocks, confiding of from fix to twelve birds, but is not nume- 

 rous in any part of England ; fome are annually feen in the 

 marines of Hackney and Plaiftow, near London, and we re- 

 member to have feen a flock feeding on the berries of the 

 mountain afh, near Aldborough-Park, Surrey ; whilft feeding, 

 they feemed very refllefs and were continually twittering ; 

 they fly heavily and near the ground. 



The food of this bird conlifts of the berries of the haw- 

 thorn (whence its name) privet, mountain-afh, and fervice ; 

 it is aftonifhing to fee with what facility this bird breaks the 

 ftones to get at the kernels ; Mr. Montague fays " they 

 break them with as much eafe as other fmall birds break 

 hemp-feed." 



" The neft is compofed of dried fibres, intermixed with 

 liver-wort, and lined with finer materials ; the eggs are of a 

 bluifh green, fpotted with olive brown, with a few irregular 

 black markings." Its provincial names are C lie rry finch, 

 Hawfinch, Bull-head, and this with the Crofsbill is in fome 

 parts called Shell-Apple. 



For our fpecimen we are indebted to A. Harrison, Efq. 

 of Parliament-Street. 



