GOLDEN-CROWNED CANARY. 245 



GOLDEN-CROWNED CANARY.* 



Crithagra Brasiliensis. 

 Fringilla Brasiliensis, SPIX. Av. Bras. pi. 61. 



THIS very beautiful Finch is rather common in 

 the large park-like pastures of Mount Edgecumbe, 

 Auchindown, Culloden, and Peter's Vale, situated 

 at the eastern extremity of Westmoreland. It is 

 not at all shy, but hops about the grass, or flits to 

 and fro among the pimento and orange trees, in 

 parties of three or four, now and then sitting among 

 the branches, and uttering a monotonous chip, chip, 

 pertinaciously repeated by both sexes without varia- 

 tion. This is the only note I have heard from 

 them. 



These birds are believed in Jamaica to be the 

 descendants of some pairs of the common Canary 

 turned out. " A gentleman of the colony named 

 Shakspeare," observes Mr. Hill, "many years ago, 

 touching at Madeira on his voyage to this island, 



* Length 5 inches, expanse 1 0, flexure 2^y, tail 2-^, rictus -5^, tarsus 

 i, middle toe $. Irides dark hazel ; feet horn-coloured ; beak, upper 

 mandible blackish, under pale horny. Male. Plumage above olive yellow ; 

 head lustrous orange, silky ; whole under parts rich golden yellow. 

 Wing and tail feathers dusky brown, with both edges broadly yellow. 



Female. Head and back yellowish grey, with black dashes: throat 

 whitish ; a broad collar of pale yellow encircles the neck ; breast and 

 belly greyish-white. In other respects as the male, but less vivid. 

 Some males, (young ?) have the upper plumage mingled with greyish ash, 

 and the orange only on forehead and throat. 



