562 



PERCHING BIRDS 



eggs, upon which are reddish-brown spots or streaks, with underlying 

 markings of pale grey. It should be added that the British goldfinch 

 has been distinguished as a separate subspecies under the designation 

 Acanthis carduclis briiatinicus, which, on the system here followed, 

 would be equivalent to Carduclis clegans britannicus. 



The British goldfinch is stated to differ from the continental bird 

 by its darker, more olive-brown upper surface, the white patch on the 

 neck is less well developed, the ear-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts 

 are more or less tinged with brown, and the sides of the body are darker 

 and more uniform brown. The red of the head is generally very bright. 



Siskin 



(Chrysomitris 



spinus). 



Although often classed in the same genus as the 

 goldfinch (under the name of Cardiielis spinus), 

 the siskin is now more generally regarded as 

 representing a genus apart, mainly distinguished 

 by a different style of colouring. Siskins, of which there are several 

 species, have, moreover, a much wider geographical range than either 



of the genera of Fringillina; hitherto 

 mentioned, occurring not only 

 throughout Europe and Asia north 

 of the Himalaya, but likewise in 

 many parts of Africa, and in both 

 halves of the New World. 



Except in autumn and most of 

 the winter, when the full colouring 

 is obscured by brownish margins to 

 the feathers, the cock siskin presents 

 the following features : — Greenish 

 olive with black streaks is the pre- 

 dominant hue of the upper-parts, but 

 on the crown of the head, the space 

 in front of each eye, and a patch 

 beneath the lower jaw this is replaced 

 by black, while the greater wing- 

 coverts are also black, although 

 SISKIN. tipped with white ; on the loins the 



green passes into yellow, which ex- 

 tends on to the tail-coverts ; and the under-parts are greyish white, 

 tinged on the throat with greenish yellow, and streaked with black. 

 Olive-brown with dusky streaks, extending over the crown of the head, 

 characterises the upper-parts of the hen, while the lower-parts are 



UOUNTCD IN THE ROWLAND WAND STUDIOS 



