EUROPEAN FINCHES. 61 



most natural their food is, the better they will 

 thrive. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEXES. There is such 

 a diversity of color among these birds that it 

 is sometimes not easy to distinguish the male 

 from the female. There are, however, general 

 characteristics given. The head of the male is 

 rather larger and longer, the eye fuller, and the 

 neck and legs a little longer. The carriage of the 

 male is different, being more upright. This last 

 I consider the best criterion, but the person must 

 be a close observer that picks out a male in this 

 way, and be accustomed to see a good many 

 birds. The best and surest test is the singing : a 

 bird, if good for anything, will sing in the spring, 

 especially if there is a female in the room with 

 him that he can see or hear. The young males 

 may be picked out, when six or eight weeks old, 

 by the swelling of their throats when warbling 

 over their notes. 



LOCATION. Found domesticated throughout 

 the world. In the Canary Islands, Africa Resi- 

 dent. 



