Were it not so common, occurring abundantly throughout these islands, this bird would be appreciated as one of our prettiest songsters and by no means unattractive in plumage. The winter is spent in company with other Finches and Buntings in the fields or stackyards, where it feeds on the grain and other seeds, and we must confess that it performs its share in despoiling the farmer of his hard-earned produce, paying at the same time a sort of compensation in the destruction of numerous weeds. It is resident, and towards the middle of April constructs a somewhat untidy nest of twigs, rootlets, and moss, lined with grass, hair, and feathers, usually placed at a moderate height in a hedge, against the bole of a tree, or more rarely among ivy against a wall. The eggs, six in number, are large for the size of the bird and very pale blue, spotted, especially towards the larger end, with pale rust-red spots. During the summer large numbers of grubs and caterpillars are consumed in addition to the usual seeds; the young are fed by regurgitation. The call-note is a long drawn-out “tsweer,” and is uttered with monotonous frequency during the spring and summer months, but it has also a very pretty warbling song full of little trills and modulations which it utters when sitting on a branch or when courting its mate with drooping wings and outspread tail, and every feather on its body quivering with excitement and passion. [Illustration: GREENFINCH _Ligurinus chloris_ Male (below). Female (above)] The male has the upper parts olive green, rather yellower on the rump and forehead. There is a golden-yellow eye-stripe. The wing feathers are dark brown with bright yellow outer margins. Tail feathers, except the central pair, which are black, yellow at their base with black tips. Under parts greenish yellow, rather darker on the flanks. The females are much duller than the males and very brown on the upper parts in winter. The young are brownish yellow, streaked on the breast with darker brown. The males do not acquire their full plumage till their second year. Length 6 in.; wing 3·5 in.; but some examples are much smaller. THE HAWFINCH Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas This fine and handsome species, whose appearance is only marred by the excessive size of its beak, is by no means so rare as it is usually considered. It is found locally in most wooded districts of England, but becomes scarcer in the north and is decidedly rare in Wales. To Scotland and Ireland it is, however, only a rare and occasional wanderer. Extremely shy, avoiding the haunts of man, and keeping to the tops of high trees, its presence is very difficult to detect, and the call-note, which is a weak and high-pitched “sit,” would not attract attention unless specially listened for.