66 



Con- Ji^ the Iberian peninsula the Serin is abundant in most wooded districts 



Europe, of Spain and Portugal, nesting in olive and cork -oak trees, in the pine 

 forest, and also on the slopes of the Pyrenees. In France it occurs chiefly 

 in the central and southern provinces, and is abundant in Corsica, nesting 

 in the olive, ilex, and cork trees. It breeds in the hilly parts of northern 

 and central Italy, occasionally in Calabria and Apulia, and is scarce in the 

 south of Sardinia. In Switzerland it is tolerably common in the plain, but 

 occurs in the mountains up to about 3600 ft., and of late years has 

 considerably increased its northern range in Germany (see Orn. Monatsber. 

 1893, p. 1), breeding not uncommonly in Brandenburg, while it has nested 

 in Pomerania and West Prussia and in the Rhine valley at least as far 

 as Kohl, as well as in Silesia. In Austro-Hungary it is now found in 

 every province, and is especially common in W. Hungary and Bohemia. 

 In Poland it was first recorded as breeding in 1877. In does not appear 

 to be a common breeding species in the pine forests of the Balkan penin- 

 sula, but is found on the wooded mountains of Grreece. 

 Nest. This nest is as a rule a difficult one to find, though the peculiar 



sibilant notes of the cock occasionally indicate its neighbourhood. In 

 middle Europe it is built in almost any kind of fruit or forest tree, 

 generally 9 or 10 ft. from the ground, but sometimes as low as 5 ft., in 

 gardens, parks, orchards, vineyards or avenues; sometimes among the small 

 twigs, and at other times at the angle of a stout branch. It is neatly. built 

 of grass stalks and roots, often -with a few lichens attached, interwoven 

 with spiders' w^ebs, or thread, and is generally smoothly lined with hair, 

 feathers, or down. Approximate measurements: diameter 3f in., depth of 

 cup 1:^ — 1^^- in., diameter If — 2 in. In N. Africa nests have been found 

 in bushes only 3 ft. high, as well as in olives and cork oaks up to 20 ft. 

 Eggs. 3 — 4 in the south, but generally 5 in the north; closely resembling 



those of the Citril Finch and Goldfinch in colour and markings. They are 

 however generally smaller than those of the latter, and according to Rey, 

 frequently show a bluish tinge, which however soon fades. Occasionally 

 a clutch is marked with big blotches of purple brown. 

 Breeding In Middle Europe generally in May; in Corsica about the second 



Season, ^yeek of April, but much earlier in the south. Thus Rey found fledged 

 young on one occasion in Portugal on March 12, and eggs may be found 

 in Spain from the end of March to mid June. In Tunis Whitaker has 

 seen well grown young in the nest on March 24, but Meade- Waldo found 

 eggs in the Maroccan Atlas in July. In Marocco Hartert found eggs at 

 Mazagan early in April. 

 Measure- Average of 100 eggs (82 by the writer and 18 by Rey) 16.17X1 1-86 mm., 



ments. ]\iax. 17.6x12.5 and 16.3X12.7 mm., Min. 14.4X11 mm. Average 

 weight (18 eggs) 70 mg. (Rey). 



