66 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



114. Coccothranstes cldoris. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 304.) The Green- 

 finch. 



The Green Linnet is very common throughout the winter in the 

 maritime plains, on Mount Carmel, and other wooded hills near the coast, 

 but disappears in spring. 



The Greenfinch is spread throughout Europe, except in the extreme 

 north, but is not found further east than Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and the 

 Syrian coast. It is also resident in Algeria, though the North African 

 bird has been separated by many writers, and can always be distinguished. 



115. Coccothraustes cJilorotica. (Licht. Nom. A v., p. 46.) Syrian 

 Greenfinch. 



The Syrian Greenfinch has, as I believe, been rightly separated by 

 Lichtenstein and Bonaparte. It is very much smaller and more brightly 

 coloured than the Common Greenfinch, the length of the largest I can find 

 being, culmen o'4, wing 3", tail 2-1, tarsus o-6. The forehead, too, is of a 

 rich gold, without the greenish tinge of the ordinary Greenfinch ; and the 

 brilliant yellow of other parts cannot be equalled by any other specimen I 

 have seen. 



But the distinction in habits is very noticeable. Very soon after the 

 Common Greenfinch has disappeared, which is about the end of February, 

 this bird about the middle of March makes its appearance in very great 

 numbers among the olive-groves and gardens, where its habits and nidifi- 

 cation in no way differ from those of its congener. 



I can find no trace of any Greenfinch visiting Egypt or Persia, and 

 must conclude, therefore, that the Syrian Greenfinch winters in Arabia. 



116. Coccothraustes vulgaris. Pall. Zoog. R. A. ii., p. 12. The 

 Hawfinch. 



The Hawfinch may be more common than is generally supposed in 

 Palestine, but it is very seldom seen. I have only twice detected it, once 

 in Gilead, and once near Tabor. 



The Hawfinch has a wide longitudinal range — from Spain to China 

 and Japan ; but it does not reach to the extreme north, and except in Algeria 

 it is only a straggler to North Africa. It has not been found south of 

 the Himalayas. 



