The HAWFINCH (_Coccothraustes vulgaris_) is easily distinguishable from
the true Finches on account of the unusual heaviness of its shape: its
length is seven inches, and breadth across the wings twelve inches; its
tail two and a half inches long, and the wing three and three-quarter
inches from the shoulder to the tip. The female is somewhat smaller. The
plumage is greyish yellow upon the fore-part of the head, and brownish
yellow at the back and on the cheeks; the neck and throat ash-grey, the
back light brown; the lower part of the body brownish grey, and the
throat black; the wings black, with a white spot in their centre; the
beak a dark blue in winter, and in summer grey, somewhat darker towards
the tip. The eye is light grey, the foot light red. In the female all
these colours are paler, and the black patch upon the throat smaller than
in the male. In the young birds the feathers on the head are greyish
yellow, those on the nape of the neck dirty brownish yellow, the back
greyish brown, the lower part of the body greyish white, shading into
reddish grey upon the throat and sides, and marked with blackish brown.
The middle tail-feathers are very peculiar, becoming broader towards
their ends, which are slightly forked.
These birds inhabit all the temperate portions of Europe and Asia, and
are found in Sweden, also in the southern and western parts of Russia,
and are amongst the summer visitors to Siberia. They fly about in large
flocks, often reaching Algiers and Morocco in the course of their
migrations; and generally prefer such mountainous or hilly countries
as are well wooded, occasionally frequenting fruit and vegetable
gardens. During the summer each little pair settles in a retired spot,
selecting such districts as are at no great distance from a cherry
orchard, and passing the night perched close together upon the twigs
of some thickly-foliaged tree. The Hawfinch, as its shape would lead
us to suppose, is very heavy and inactive, every change of place being
apparently the subject of lengthy consideration; even if alarmed, it
only flies a few paces, immediately returning to the same spot; its
movements among the branches are rather more active, but its little legs
seem hardly able to support its body when upon the ground. Its flight is
swift, undulatory, and noisy, owing to the rapid motion of its wings;
it usually hovers before perching. Despite the clumsy appearance of
this bird, it is extremely cunning and prudent, easily distinguishing
a friend from a foe, and taking every precaution for its own safety.
At the approach of danger it conceals itself so artfully among the
foliage as to render discovery almost impossible; at other times it will
perch on the topmost branches in order to observe the movements of an
enemy--indeed, we ourselves endeavoured some years ago to capture one
of these wary little creatures with the help of some favourite seed,
but eight days passed before we were successful, as the use of our gun
appeared to be quite understood by the intended victims. These birds are
fond of beech-nuts and cherries, preferring the latter solely on account
of the kernels; in order to obtain which, the cherry is bitten off and
its stone separated from the fleshy part, the latter being rejected. The
fruit stones are cracked with such force and noise that the process may
be heard at thirty paces from the tree, and the kernel is then extracted
and swallowed. When fruit is scarce the Hawfinch is compelled to seek its
food upon the ground, occasionally doing great damage amongst our seeds.
In winter it subsists almost entirely upon the fruit of the hawthorn and
other stone fruits and berries, from the latter of which it extracts
the seeds as its favourite portion; it also consumes various kinds of
insects, such as beetles and their larvæ, in great numbers, and will even
catch Cockchafers (_Melolontha_) when upon the wing, and devour them
after throwing away the legs and elytra. One or two broods are produced
during the year, from about May to July, each pair taking possession
of a little district which no other bird is permitted to approach, the
male keeping constant watch for intruders from the top of his tree, or
detecting them by short flights in the vicinity of his nest. His song
is a disagreeable, sharp, whirring noise, which we may hope affords
greater pleasure to his mate than it does to us, for her little partner
is most indefatigable in his efforts to entertain her with his voice,
often singing for hours together, accompanying his notes with rapid and
varied gesticulations. The nest, which is easily recognised from its
unusual width, is built of twigs and straws, lined with softer materials,
firmly bound together with hair, and though by no means elaborately
constructed, may be classed amongst the number of well-built nests; it
is usually placed upon a thin branch, extreme care being taken to ensure
its concealment. The eggs, three or five in number, are an inch long, of
a dirty greenish or yellowish colour, marked with various shades of brown
or grey. The female sits during the greatest part of the day, but is
relieved for a short time about noon, when her mate takes his place upon
the eggs. The young are tended by both parents for many weeks after they
are hatched, as it is long before their beaks are capable of cracking the
cherry-stones from which they derive the principal part of their food.
The serious injury done by this species in orchards explains the extreme
aversion in which it is held; one family alone will completely clear a
tree of its fruit in an incredibly short time, and as long as a single
cherry is left the destroyers will return, in despite of all the noises
made in the hope of driving them from the spot. The gun affords the only
means of scaring them, and even to its sound they soon become accustomed.
Few birds are so pertinaciously and constantly pursued, and yet, thanks
to their cunning, they are more than a match for their numerous enemies.
Attempts to domesticate the Cherry Hawfinch usually prove unsuccessful,
as its formidable beak and quarrelsome habits render it dangerous to its
companions; it has even been known to eat its own young when in captivity.