THE FINCHES 



[ORDER : Pdsseriformes. FAMILY : Fringillidce. SUBFAMILY : Fringillince] 

 PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 1 



[F. C. R. JOURDAIN. F. B. KIRKMAN. W. P. PYCRAFT. A. L. THOMSON 2 ] 



GREENFINCH [Ligurinus chloris (Linnaeus). Green-linnet, green-chub, 

 green-grosbeak, green-olf , pea-sweep, featherpoke. French, verdier ; 

 German, Gruriling]. 



i . Description. Recognised by the stout conical bill, the prevailing yellowish 

 green hue of its plumage, and the conspicuous yellow on the outer webs of the 

 primaries and basal parts of the tail feathers. Length 5J in. [139*5 mm.]. (PL 9.) 

 The female differs in having the head and mantle browner, the under parts chiefly 

 olive-grey tinged on the breast with green, and the yellow on the primaries and 

 tail feathers duller. The young are striated with dark brown both on the olive- 

 brown upper parts and the pale yellowish green underparts, while the rump is 

 brown instead of green. Their inner secondaries have broad margins of brown, 

 and the primaries are tipped with greyish white, [w. p. p.] 



2. Distribution. The ordinary European form of this species is found 

 south of Orkney in the British Isles, 65 N. lat. in Scandinavia, and 60 N. lat. 

 in Russia, throughout Europe (except in Portugal, Spain, and the Levant, 

 where it is replaced by two local races), and eastwards to Turkestan. It has 

 been introduced into the United States. It is abundant throughout the British 

 Isles, except in the more barren and elevated districts and the outlying islands ; 

 it has, however, recently extended its range to include the Orkneys and some of 

 the Inner Hebrides, but it remains a mere visitor to the Shetlands. [A. L. T.] 



3. Migration. A resident and a migrant species. Large flocks arrive in 

 autumn, mostly by day, on the coast between Kent and the Wash, thence spreading 



1 See the Explanation, p. xvii. 



2 In the sections Nest and Eggs, Mr. Jourdain is responsible for writing the descriptions of 

 the nesting place, nests, and eggs, Mr. Kirkman for the remainder. 



