GREEN LINNET. 367 



brownish-grey, on the back with reddish-b^o^Yn. The edge of 

 the wing, the outer webs of the alula, and part of the outer 

 webs of the primaries from the base to near the end, gamboge- 

 yellow. The primary coverts are brownish-black, edged ex- 

 ternally with yellowish-green, and tipped with ash-grey ; the 

 secondary coverts ash-grey, as is the greater part of the last 

 secondary quills. The quills are brownish-black, with light 

 grey tips, and yellowish-white inner edges, excepting towards 

 the end. The tail feathers are gamboge-yellow from the base 

 to within a third of the tip, the remaining portion brownish- 

 black, edged with grey ; the four middle feathers nearly all 

 brownish-black, being tinged with green at the base only. The 

 general colour of the lower parts is lighter, the lower breast 

 pure yellow, the abdomen white, the lower tail-coverts light 

 yellow mixed with white. 



Length to end of tail 6^ inches; extent of wings lOi ; wing 

 from flexure S^^ ; tail 1^^ ; bill along the ridge \, along the 

 edge of lower mandible | ; tarsus j ; first toe ^^ , its claw /^ ; 

 second toe -{-^^ its claw 2^ twelfths ; third toe 8i twelfths, its 

 claw /j ; fourth toe {^^ its claw 2^ twelfths. 



Female. — The female is rather smaller than the male, has a 

 much less robust bill, and is less brightly coloured. The dis- 

 tribution of the colours is the same, but they are duller ; there 

 is more brown on the upper parts, the lower are greyish-brown, 

 and the yellow markings on the quills are less pure. 



Length to end of tail 6 inches ; extent of wings 10 ; wing 

 from flexure S/g ; tail "1^^ ; bill along the ridge \ ; tarsus ^^ ; 

 middle toe and claw \\. 



Variations. — Considerable variations are observed in the 

 tints of the males, some being almost pure greenish-yellow 

 above, others tinged with brown ; the cheeks with more or less 

 ash-grey; but these diiferences depend mostly upon age. Among 

 wild birds I have not observed any white, or dark-coloured in- 

 dividuals. 



Changes. — The changes which the plumage undergoes in 



