THK SCARLET RosK-Fixcn. 17 



of any other bird. It is a loud, clear whistle tu-whit', tu-tu'-i. It 

 does not require a great stretch of imagination to fancy the bird says, 

 'I'm pleased to see you,' the word 'see' being strongly accented and 

 slightly prolonged. The song is never varied, but is sometimes repeated 

 twice in rapid succession. When it is heard, the bird may usually be 

 seen perched conspicuously on the top of a bush or low tree. The 

 marshy forest banks of the great Siberian rivers are a very favourite 

 resort of this bird ; and in the Baltic provinces, where it is common, 

 and in the valley of the Upper Volga, it is described as frequenting 

 willows and other low trees in marshy districts. 



The food of this bird consists of seeds of various kinds, grain, 

 and the buds of trees. In spring it eats insects, and in autumn, 

 berries and other fruit. 



The nest of the Scarlet Rose-Finch is built in the fork of a 

 small bush, or amongst climbing plants not far from the ground. It 

 bears little resemblance to the nest of a Finch, and might easily be 

 mistaken for that of a Warbler. It is composed of dry grass-stalks, 

 and lined with horse-hair. It is rather deep, and very neatly and care- 

 fully made, although it is so slender as to be semi-transparent when 

 held lip to the light. The inside diameter is two inches and a quarter. 

 Five is the usual number of eggs, but sometimes only four are laid, 

 and occasionally as many as six. They vary in length from '9 to '73, 

 and in breadth from '63 to '55. The ground colour is greenish blue, 

 not so pale as that of the eggs of the Bullfinch ; the spots are also 

 fewer, smaller, and blacker than in typical eggs of the latter species. 

 They are smaller than the eggs of the Bullfinch, and are not likely to 

 be mistaken for the eggs of any other bird. 



In the winter the Scarlet Rose-Finch ranges over the plains of 

 India, sometimes in large flocks, btit more generally in small parties, 

 frequenting alike the groves, the gardens, and the jungle. At this 

 season of the year its habits much resemble those of the true Finches. 

 In Gilgit they breed at an elevation of 10,000 feet above the level of 

 the sea, and fresh eggs have been obtained there in the second half of 

 July. Early in September they leave the hills and come down into 

 the valley, and soon migrate to their winter quarters. Captain Butler, 

 describing its habits in Rajpootana, west of Scinde, says that it is very 

 fond of the watery nectar contained in the flower of the Indian coral- 

 tree, (Erythrina indicaj , upon which tree the bird is always found 

 when it is in blossom." 



I found this bird tame and gentle as a cage-bird ; indeed I paired 

 it up with a hen Canary, in the hope of breeding mules ; but, in all 



