1568 



THE PERCHING BIRDS 



much striated with dark brown. Of the nineteen species of serins, sixteen are 

 peculiar to Africa, and of these the greater number are found in the southern por- 

 tions of that continent. 



The serin finch, which forms the type, ranges through Central and Southern 

 Europe to Asia Minor, Palestine, and Egypt; Tristram's serin inhabits Palestine; 

 while the red-fronted serin is found in the Caucasus and Turkestan. The true 

 serin finch (Serinus hortulanus) is partial to orchards and gardens, and is a 

 bright vivacious bird, often to be seen upon the wing, indulging in irregular 

 flights, trilling all the time. Wintering in the southern quarters of that 



SERIN AND RED-FRONTED FINCHES. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



continent and in North Africa, it is a summer visitor to Central Europe. Its 

 nest is a neat structure, generally placed at the extremity of a bough, 

 composed of vegetable fibres, moss, and fine stems, lined with feathers and some- 

 times a little horsehair. Generally preferring fruit trees to the beech, oak, or 

 alder, we have seen it nesting in fir trees in walled gardens. Mr. Dresser gives the 

 following account of its breeding habits, observing that "the serin finch inhabits 

 the foot of the mountains skirting the plains, but does not appear to affect the 

 plains themselves, nor is it found in the mountains, being there replaced by the 

 citril finch. It is usually to be met with in the orchards and gardens and in the 

 vineyards, frequently in gardens which are surrounded by houses, in which last 



