THE FINCHES. 97 
The Scotch Fancy is somewhat similar, but has a rather 
different carriage, the head being higher, while the 
shoulders do not project. 
These curiously shaped birds are not to be recom- 
mended to beginners. 
The Lizard is a small ordinary-shaped bird, with dark 
plumage spotted with pale, or bright yellow and pale, or 
bright yellow cap. It is exceedingly pretty, but not very 
common. The pale specimens are called silver, and the 
bright ones golden. 
THe Himatayan Siskin (Hypacanthis spinoides) is 
about the size of a Canary, but has a shorter tail. The 
face, tail and wings are marked with black and yellow, 
the back is dark-brown, and the underparts of the body 
yellow. The hen is less bright than the cock. The 
young bird is duller still, and has dark streaks on the 
yellow of the lower plumage. 
This very pretty and lively Finch is found all along 
the Himalayas and in Manipur. It comes lower down 
than most Finches, and I have found it in flocks in the 
station of Darjeeling in March. It breeds late, in July 
and August, building, like most true Finches, an open 
nest ; this is made of fine grass, hair, and moss in a branch 
of a tree. Only three eggs are laid, pale green marked 
with black. In captivity this bird lives well, and a few 
may usually be seen for sale in the Calcutta Bird Bazaar. 
I have no doubt that the cock could be successfully 
paired with the hen Canary, and the mule ought to be a 
pretty bird anda nice songster. But most mules with the 
Canary are bred from the bird next to he noticed. 
F, GAB 7 
