172 



PASSERES. 



FRINGILLID/E. 



FRINGILLID^. 



Pyrrhula erythrina (Pallas*). 



THE SCARLET GROSBEAK. 



First observed near Tomsk in Siberia by Messerschmidt, 

 this bird was originally described and figured by Pallas as an 

 inhabitant of Southern Russia, and in 1783 received from 

 Latham (Gen. Syn. ii. p. 271) the name of Crimson-headed 

 Finch. By subsequent British authors, however, it has been 

 generally called the Scarlet Grosbeak or Scarlet Bullfinch. 

 Its gradual extension westward to many parts of Europe is a 

 curious fact, and it may now be justifiably included in this 

 work as an occasional visitor to England. 



The first unquestionable appearance of the Scarlet Gros- 

 beak in this country seems to have been recorded by Mr. 

 Wonfor f (Zool. s.s. p. 1918), and the statement was 



* Loxia erythrina, Pallas, Nov. Comment. Acad. Sc. Imji. Petroiiol. xiv. 

 p. 587 (1770). 



+ This gentleman indeed called it the " rosy bullfinch (Pi/n-Jmla rosea) ", but 

 there is no doubt he was mistaken in so doing. The true Rosy Bullfinch, though 

 an allied, is a very distinct species, not yet known to have been taken in Britain. 



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