79 
Wild Birds Useful and Injurious. 
within bounds. It is worthy of remark in passing that an undue 
increase of small birds is the inevitable result of exterminating 
such of their natural enemies as the sparrow-hawk, jay, and 
magpie. The greenfinch co-operates with other small birds in 
devouring the seeds of such weeds as the dandelion, corn mari- 
gold, dock, plantain, goosegrass, corn crowfoot, charlock, knot- 
grass, and wild vetch. Its young are chiefly fed on insects and 
a few soft seeds, and immense quantities of moths, flies, cater- 
pillars, and other pests are captured for their sustenance. The 
seed of spent hops in a brewery yard sometimes attracts scores 
of greenfinches. 
Fig. 9. — Greenfinch, Coceolhraustes Moris. 
The Hawfinch ( Coccothraustes vulgaris) may be at once re- 
cognised by (fig. 10) its bulky appearance and powerful bill, 
which in an exaggerated degree resembles that of the greenfinch. 
It is considerably larger than the other finches, measuring fully 
seven inches in length, notwithstanding its comparatively short 
tail. Though still generally considered a rarity, it has greatly 
increased of late years in the southern and midland counties of 
England. 
The hawfinch, in spite of its shy nature, has attracted atten- 
