THE SCARLET ROSE-FINCH. THE SERIN. 57 



Family FRINGILLID^E. Subfamily FRINGIIJ.INsE. 



THE SCARLET ROSE-FINCH. 



Carfiodacits cryt/irinus, PALL. 



A FULL account of this species will be found in my book " Foreign Finches 

 in Captivity." I do not admit its claim to be called British, for although 

 two examples have been obtained in England, one at Brighton, in 1869, and the 

 other at Hampstead in the following year, it is quite possible that both may have 

 escaped from some ship passing our shores, or (soon after importation) from an 

 aviary.* 



This bird, sometimes called " Scarlet Grosbeak," is, superficially, in no respect 

 like a Bullfinch ; whereas in notes, form of beak, outline of bod}-, and behaviour, 

 it approaches the Serins. After its first moult in captivity the male loses all its 

 rosy colouring, just as the Crossbill does. 



Family FRINGILLIDsE. Subfamily FRINGILLIN/E. 



THE SERIN. 



Serinus hortulaiius, KOCH. 



D 



R. SHARPE gives the geographical distribution of this species as : " Central 

 and Southern Europe, ranging eastwards to Asia Minor, Palestine, and 



* Mr. Howard Saunders tells me that he believes these two specimens were genuine wanderers to our 

 shores, because they were both in the dull plumage of young birds, and therefore were not likely to have been 

 imported. But both hens and young birds are imported, whilst cocks soon lose their distinctive colouring in 

 captivity. 



