14 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



They are pale bluish-green in ground colour, spotted 

 and speckled with reddish-brown, and with underlying 

 markings of gray. On many eggs the markings are dis- 

 tributed in an irregular zone round the large end. 

 Clutches are sometimes found pure white. Average 

 measurement, '8 inch in length, by '55 inch in breadth. 

 Incubation, performed by the female, lasts twelve or 

 thirteen days. 



Diagnostic characters : I know of no reliable 

 character which will serve to distinguish eggs of the 

 Canary from those of the Linnet and the Greenfinch. 

 The style of the nest is of some service, but the eggs of 

 this species require very careful identification and strict 

 authentication to be of any scientific value. 



Family FRINGILLID^E. Genus Serinus. 



Sub-family FRINGILLINAL. 



SERIN FINCH. 



Serinus hortulanus, Koch. 



(British : Rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, March, April, and May. 



Breeding area: South-west Pal^earctic region. The 

 Serin Finch is confined during the breeding season to 

 South-western Europe, Asia Minor, and North-western 

 Africa. It breeds in South Prussia, Luxemberg, Central 

 and Southern France, the Spanish peninsula, Switzerland, 

 Italy, Austria, Turkey, Greece, and Asia Minor, and 

 south of the Mediterranean in Algeria and Morocco. 



Breeding habits : The haunts of the Serin during 

 the breeding season are orchards, gardens, pleasure- 



