The Serin 6i 



may have escaped from some ship passing our shores, or (soon after importation) 

 from an aviary.* 



This bird, sometimes called " Scarlet Grosbeak," is, superficially, in no respect 

 like a Bullfinch ; whereas in notes, form of beak, outline of body, and behaviour, 

 it approaches the Serins. After its first moult in captivity the male loses all its 

 rosy colouring, just as the Crossbill does. 



Family— FRINGILLID.'E. Subfamily— FRINGILLIN.F. 



The Serin. 



Serinus horlulanus, KoCH. 



DR. SHARPE gives the geographical distribution of this species as : — 

 " Central and Southern Europe, ranging eastwards to Asia Minor, Palestine, 

 and Egypt : and northwards to Northern Germany, Denmark, and occasion- 

 ally the British Islands." 



Although there is no absolute proof that the few specimens of this species 

 which have been obtained in Great Britain may not all have escaped from con- 

 finement, the Serin being a well-known and tolerably freely imported cage-bird ; 

 the fact that it breeds in the Netherlands, renders it quite possible, and even 

 probable, that they ma}' have been stragglers to our coasts. Seebohm observes : — 

 "It is said that a Serin was caught near Portsmouth, in April, 1852, another at 

 Taunton, in 1866, and a third at Worthing, in 1869; but by far the greater 

 number are those brought by the Brighton bird-catchers to Mr. Swaj'sland. Rarely 



* sir. Howard Sauuders told me that he believed the two specimens recorded by him were genuine 

 wanderers to our shores, because they were both in the dull plumage of young birds, and, therefore, were not 

 likel}- to have been imported. But both hens and young birds are imported, whilst cocks soon lose their 

 distinctive colouring in captivit}'. The idea that a captive must necessarily show evidence of having been in 

 captivity is absurd, many captives being far more perfect in plumage than wild birds. 



VuL. u, R 



