MATHEWS ON THE AZURE-WINGED MAGPIE, ETC. 80 



tliat species by its large size, stout appearance, short tail, and clumsy 

 beak, and besides which its call-note is loud and harsh, and somewhat 

 resembles that of our common Bunting. The males when singing attain 

 to a great height, and their habits when so employed are strikingly dis- 

 similar from that of A. arvensis, their wings not being moved with that 

 incessant vibration which so characterizes that species ; when rising they 

 seem as it were to soar with less effort and with a certain graceful undu- 

 lating motion, and also describe much larger circles. Their song, heard 

 at a distance, is exceedingly soft and beautiful, but when near it is piercing 

 and unpleasant. This appears to be one of the favourite cage birds of the 

 Portuguese, as in some of the streets of Lisbon one might see them hanging 

 (generally in cages much too small for the size of the bird) outside every 

 house, and frequently the poor captives would take it into their heads to 

 sing against each other with all their strength, and on such occasions it 

 was anything but agreeable to be in the street. These birds are excellent 

 eating. 



Alaucla cristata, Lin. This bird was not rare, but I never observed it 

 flocking together with any other species ; they were invariably to be seen 

 in pairs frequenting dry roads and paths, sometimes in the most public 

 places, where they were very fond of dusting themselves and preening their 

 feathers. 



Emheriza cia, Lin. This species was not uncommon in low marshy 

 localities in the vicinity of Coina, Almada, &c., and I also occasionally 

 met with it in gardens feeding in company with E. clrlus, Fringilla seriniis, 

 &c. It appears to delight in sitting on the top of a dead reed or low bush, 

 where it would remain for a considerable time singing its monotonous 

 song, and when so engaged would allow one to approach within a short 

 distance of it. 



Fringilla serinus, Lin. This elegant little species was very numerous 

 everywhere in the neighbourhood of Lisbon, and sometimes I observed 

 them in large flocks assembled in fields where there was an abundance of 

 short dry grass, upon the ripe seeds of which they fed. On one occasion 

 I fired at a flock with a small walking-stick gun (which, when going for a 

 ramble in the country, I generally took with me for the purpose of secu- 

 ring specimens) and shot five individuals, upon one of which I was much 

 surprised to discover two large parasites about the size of an ordinary 

 dog-tick. These creatures were situated at the back of the bird's head in 

 a spot quite impossible to be reached, and must have caused intolerable 



