218



stripe wider than seems usual. In addition to this the upper

parts are darker as to the green, while below the yellow is deep

and bright, the diffused green tinge in the centre of the breast

being entirely absent. His hen, while a complete replica of the

others as to shape and markings, was brown rather than green in

the general colour, this brown becoming almost ruddy brown

about the head, throat, and underparts. She was also white¬

legged, but this may perhaps be accounted for by their having

been house-moulted in a small cage. Still, in spite of this,

the cock’s feet and toes were black. Since this Serin is

universally found over the whole of the Cape Peninsular and

from there to the British Protectorate, the slight variations in

colour may be due to local environment.


Both sexes of this species (but especially the malej

have a queer way of flicking or flirting the tail up and down, the

down stroke being rather accentuated ; while the cock, when

excited, has the most extraordinary trick of humping himself up

and elevating one or other side of the body in the funniest

possible manner. As may be imagined, a gentleman who so

comports himself is not too amiable towards his wife or any other

bird, but a Green Singing Finch may be relied on with every

confidence to bring him to a more humble bearing. As far as I

can judge from the specimens I have had, these birds are easily

tamed and become very steady. One cock that I kept indoors for

a time would sing anywhere the cage was put and has trolled

forth many a stave on my dinner table by gaslight and within a

couple of feet of myself. The song is clear, well sustained,

powerful, and yet sweet and quite free from any shrill and

ear-piercing notes.


Altogether I have had three pairs of these birds, and

although they have been out in aviaries I have never seen the

slightest attempt at building. One hen, however, is most

friendly towards any young birds that may be about, and is

apparently never so happy as when she is feeding them. She

even fed a hen Sulphur Seed-eater that was not well, and it was

quite pretty to see her stand close up to the poor thing that

had its head tucked under the wing and presently gently

pluck it by the shoulder to wake it up and then proceed to feed

it. She would then turn round to be fed herself by her

Platonic lover, an English Linnet, to whom she has been warmly

attached all the spring and summer.


I have said that the cock is a more than pleasing singer,

but that only applies to indoor cage life. In an outdoor aviary



