THE GREEN SINGING FINCH. 33 



THE GREEN SINGING FINCH. 



Serinns icterus, BONA. ET VlEiLL. 



THIS charming and lively little Serin inhabits West Africa from 

 Senegambia to the Gold Coast ; the whole of East Africa to 

 Natal, Damara Land, and Angola, but only extends as far as the 

 Eastern Cape Colony. It has been introduced into Mauritius, Reunion, 

 and other islands. 



S. icterus bears a considerable resemblance to the St. Helena Seed- 

 eater, but is decidedly smaller, the cock measuring 4^ inches, and the 

 hen 4 T % inches in length ; its cheeks are bright yellow, separated from 

 the throat by a black line across the lower part of the face ; the tail 

 feathers are also tipped with white.* The hen is paler in colouring than 

 the cock, is somewhat browner above, and has a white spot on the chin. 



The courting of this bird consists in his chasing the hen vigor- 

 ously ; at the same time shouting out his song, which at this season 

 sounds exactly like the words "You're such a cure, I'll eat ye": when 

 pursuing an enemy, he uses the same words ; but, doubtless, they must 

 then be understood differently. It seems strange that a bird, with 

 such a small musical repertoire, should be specially designated a Singing 

 Finch. Sometimes, but this is usually when the bird is perching, he 

 utters a sort of note of defiance, " Ye-oo-er," probably only the first 

 utterance of his song prolonged ; and it is generally followed, almost 

 instantly, by a dive from the branch after his enemy. 



Mr. Angus says, "This species is pretty common about Rustenberg, 

 where I found it congregated and feeding among stubbles on the farms, 

 and sometimes also on the flowers of the parasite that the Sugar- 

 birds are so fond of." 



Messrs. Sharpe and Layard write : " Mr. Ortlepp has sent us 



* Mr. Abrahams declares that two species are confounded under the name of "Green 

 Singing Finch," one of them being much more brightly coloured than the other, and having a 

 white-tipped tail ; he says that this is the bird illustrated on our plate, and should be called 

 the "Bearded Seed-Eater;" Dr. Sharpe, on the other hand declares that they are only forms of 

 one bird. Of the six or seven pairs which I have had, all the " Bearded Seed-Eaters " have been 

 cocks, and all the "Green Singing Finches " hens, so that I am tempted to regard the difference 

 as characteristic either of sex or age. 



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