SERIN FINCH. 83 
FRINGILLA SERINUS. 
SERIN FINCH. 
(PiatE 12.) 
Passer serinus, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 179 (1760). 
Fringilla serinus, Zinn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 320 (1766); et auctorum plurimorum— 
(Gmelin), (Latham), (Temminck), (Gray), (Miiller), (Schlegel), (Degland), (Bree), 
(Elwes § Buckley), (Danford § Harvie- Brown), (Brehm), (Homeyer), (Schalow), 
(Blasius), (Reichenow), &e. 
Loxia serinus (Lriss.), Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 140 (1769). 
Serinus hortulanus, Koch, Syst. baier. Zool. i. p. 229 (1816). 
Serinus flavescens, Goud, B. Eur. pl. 194 (1837). 
Pyirhula (Dryospiza) serinus (Briss.), Keys. u. Blas. Wirb. Eur. p. xli (1840). 
Pyrrhula serinus (Briss.), Degland, Orn. Eur. i. p. 192 (1849). 
Crithagra serinus (Briss.), Heugl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 647 (1871). 
Serinus luteolus, Homeyer, Journ. Orn. 1873, p. 223. 
The evidence in support of the opinion that the Serin is an accidental 
visitor to our shores rests on no better foundation than that which can be 
adduced in support of the claim of the Canary to be so considered. 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. Swaysland. 
Rarely a year passes without two or three being thus obtained, although 
it sometimes happens that none are caught for a couple of years. Some 
ornithologists have supposed that these birds have escaped from confine- 
ment, alleging that these captures have become much commoner since 
the Serin was appreciated as a cage-bird in this country; whilst others 
have doubted the good faith of both the captors and the vendors. 
So many frauds have been attempted on collectors that scepticism has 
become a virtue in ornithologists. In the present case, however, I see no 
reason to doubt the veracity of those concerned, or to question the occa- 
sional visits of the Serin to our islands. The wonders of Heligoland were 
at first doubted by distinguished ornithologists: now we ask whether the 
Serin has occurred on Heligoland, and finding that it has we accept the 
fact as strong evidence of its having also occurred in this country. 
On the continent the range of the Serin is remarkably restricted, 
being confined to Europe, west of Russia, and to North Africa. To the 
north of France, Belgium, and the north of Germany the Serin is an acci- 
dental visitor, as it is to the south of England. It breeds in Central and 
Southern France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, South Germany, Austria, and 
Turkey; and in all these countries a few remain during the winter. In 
Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor it is a resident, breeding 
G2 
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