SISKIN. 401 



slightly concave, and its ridge very narrow. The plumage is 

 soft, blended, and slightly glossed. The wings are of moderate 

 length ; the first primary of the same length as the second, 

 which is a little longer than the third ; the primaries rounded, 

 the secondaries slightly emarginate. The tail is of moderate 

 length, and rather deeply emarginate. 



The bill is light grey above, whitish below, the tip dusky. 

 The iris is brown. The feet light brown. The upper part of 

 the head, and the throat are black ; the hind part of the head 

 and neck yellowish-green mixed with black streaks. A yellow 

 band extends from above the eye backwards. The fore part of 

 the back and the scapulars are yellowish-green, tinged with 

 grey, each feather having a central dusky line, the rump green- 

 ish-yellow, the upper tail-coverts yellowish-brown. The smaller 

 wing-coverts are blackish at the base, dull green at the end ; 

 the alula, primary coverts and quills black ; the basal part and 

 outer edges of the latter pure yellow;. the secondary coverts 

 black, their extremities greenish-yellow, forming a broad band 

 of that colour across the wing. Tail-feathers yellow, black at 

 the end, the two middle brownish-black. The fore-neck and 

 breast are yellow, the abdomen whitish, the sides and lower 

 tail-coverts greyish-white, each feather w4th a black central 

 streak. 



Length to end of tail 4y\ inches ; extent of wings 9 ; wing 

 from flexure 2-^^ ; tail l^l ; bill along the ridge -^^^ along the 

 edge of lower mandible 5^ twelfths ; tarsus ^^ ; middle toe and 

 claw 8i twelfths. 



Female. — The female has the bill pale brown above, lighter 

 beneath ; the feet light brown ; all the upper parts light greyish- 

 green, each feather with a brownish-black central band ; the 

 wings and tail as in the male, but the black parts tinged with 

 brown, and the yellow with green ; the lower parts yellowish- 

 white, each feather having a narrow longitudinal band of black. 



Length to end of tail 4/3 ; wing from flexure 2/^ ; tail l^^g ; 

 bill along the ridge 4i twelfths ; tarsus ^^, 



Vakiations. — In wild birds I have not met with any remark- 



Dd 



