73 



Pyrrhula erytlirina (Pall.). Newton, ed. Yarrell, II, p. 172; Saunders, 

 Man., p. 197. Carpodacus erytlirinus (Pall.). Dresser, Birds of Europe, 

 IV, p. 75; id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 321. C. erytlirina erytlirina (Pall.). 

 Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 106. 



Breeding Range: The greater part of European Russia and a few 

 localities in E. Prussia, Hungary, etc. [Also in Siberia as far as the Lena, 

 replaced by other subspecies in central Asia and Kamtschatka.] 



It is said to have bred in E. Fimnark in 1867 — 8, and nests regularly *-'°'^' 



. ... '" tinental 



in southern Finland, especially ni Nyland, and has been met with m summer Europe, 

 in the Kuopio district. In Livonia, Esthonia and Kurland it is found, but 

 not in large numbers, and is recorded as breeding near Archangel. Seebohm 

 met with two males at Ust Tzilma on the Petschora on June 7. In Great 

 Russia it is not uncommon and breeds not uncommonly in the Moscow 

 Government and also in Volhynia. Further south it is found as far as 

 the lower waters of the Volga and Don, but the Caucasian birds appear 

 to approach the Himalayan form, C. erytlirinus roseatus (Hodgs.). In 

 Poland it is generally distributed but nowhere common, while in Germany 

 its only breeding place at the present time is the north eastern district of 

 E. Prussia, although it is said to have formerly bred in Silesia. In Austro- 

 Hungary, besides Galicia, it has occasionally bred in N. Hungary (Gomor, 

 Szepes and Saros counties). 



Hartert describes this bird as breeding commonly in several localities Nest. 

 near Pillau, between Konigsberg and Memel, and on the Kurische Nehrung. 

 Its favourite haunts are swampy woods of Alnus glutinosa with dense 

 undergrowth, always in the neighbourhood of rivers, and here the nest 

 is usually built low down in thick bushes. It is a very flimsy construction 

 of dead stalks, and dry grass lined with fine roots and horsehair. Diameter 

 of cup 2f in., depth l-} — 14- in., diameter of nest about 5 — 6 1- in., 

 depth 2 1 in. The loud, flute like note of the cock when once heard is 

 quite unmistakable. 



Usually 5 in number, though clutches of 6 are said to have been Eggs, 

 found, and second layings often consist of only 4 eggs. They are of a 

 beautiful deep cerulean blue, which is however somewhat fugitive, sparsely 

 marked towards the blunt end with fine spots and streaks of deep chococate, 

 almost blackish, brown and occasionally a few violet grey underlying markings. 



In E. Prussia full clutches are generally to be found in the second Breediug 

 week of June (earliest date June 7), but fresh eggs may be taken till season. 

 July (Hartert), while in S. Finland the breeding season appears to be very 

 similar, eggs having been taken from June 9 to 18, and even in the first 

 week of July. In mid-Russia full clutches have been taken from May 23 

 omvards, but most eggs are laid early in June. Probably only one brood 

 is reared as a rule. The hen sits very closely when incubating. 



