Vol '{9i9 XVI ] Burleigh, Bird-life in Southwestern France. 505 



It was seen for the last time September 22, a single bird feeding over an 

 open field with several Chimney Swallows. 



40. Chloris chloris chloris (L.). Greenfinch. — This was a plenti- 

 ful summer resident about the towns and the scattered farms. With its 

 dull greenish plumage, it would have been easily passed by but for its char- 

 acteristic song, a prolonged lazy drawl. This was frequently heard during 

 the heat of the day, when other birds were silent, and so was more noticeable. 

 The first birds were seen April 21, a flock flying into the top of a tree ahead 

 of me. They were soon plentiful and remained so until early fall. In 

 flight they uttered a note much like that of a Crossbill, and this resemblance 

 was heightened by the way in which they tore apart pine cones for the seeds 

 they contained. September 26 a small flock was seen for the last time. 



41. Carduelis carduelis carduelis. Goldfinch. — This pretty little 

 bird proved to be but a migrant only. During the spring it was very scarce, 

 for it was seen but once. On April 24 one bird was seen in the top of a 

 small tree at the edge of a field. From early fall on, however, it was almost 

 plentiful and small flocks were frequently encountered. September 2 

 fifteen were found feeding on weed seeds at the edge of a millet field, and 

 flocks of this size were of more or less common occurrence for the next few 

 months. On October 22 fully a hundred were found feeding together in an 

 open field. The last record for the year was November 21, two birds flying 

 by overhead. 



42. Spinus spinus spinus. Siskin. — For a few weeks in early 

 spring this species was fairly plentiful, feeding in the alders and scattered 

 poplars along the streams. 1 1 was seen for the first time on March 10, when 

 a flock of fifty of these birds was found feeding in the alders bordering a 

 small creek. They were very restless, seldom remaining quiet long, and 

 uttering a harsh twitter as they moved about. Another note that was 

 commonly heard was a low call quite like that of our Goldfinch. On March 

 29 the last birds were seen, several flying by overhead. 



43. Serinus canarius serinus (L.). Serin Finch. — In size and 

 actions this species resembled the last, but in plumage was quite unlike it. 

 The throat and breast were yellow, the sides of the latter well streaked with 

 brown. The cheeks were reddish brown. The upper parts were brown, 

 with a patch of yellow on the neck. It was a plentiful summer resident in 

 the open country about the edges of the towns and about the scattered 

 farms. The first bird was seen April 21, singing from the top of a tree at 

 the edge of a field. The song was buzzing in nature, prolonged, and far 

 from musical, and so distinctive that the birds were easily recognized when- 

 ever heard. On May 27 a nest was found with one fresh egg, fifteen feet 

 from the ground at the outer end of a limb of a small oak at the side of a 

 road. It was made of fine rootlets and bits of wool, well lined with chicken 

 feathers, and sparingly covered externally with lichens. Another found 

 June 5 with newly hatched young was fifteen feet from the ground, at the 

 outer end of a limb of a small maritime pine at the edge of a stretch of woods. 

 It was made of grasses, well lined with chicken feathers, and covered 



