SERIN SHAG 829 



pp. 445, 446) have declared in effect that this view of its affinities 

 cannot be taken. Prof. Huxley (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 455) 

 expressed himself more cautiously, and, while remarking that 

 in its skull "the internasal septum is ossified to a very slight 

 extent, and the maxillo-palatine processes may meet in the middle 

 line, in both of which respects it approaches the birds of prey," 

 added that " the ossified part of the nasal septum does not unite 

 below with the maxillo-palatines," and that in this respect it is 

 unlike the Accipitres ; finally he declared (p. 457) that, as Otis con- 

 nects the Geranomorphx with the Charadriomorphte, so Cariama con- 

 nects the former with the Aetomorphse, "but it is a question 

 whether these two genera may be better included in " the Gerano- 

 morphx, " or made types of separate groups." The latter course is 

 followed by Prof. Fiirbringer (Untersuchungen, p. 1566) and Dr. 

 Gadow (Thier-reich, Vogel, ii. pp. 184-186), who unhesitatingly regard 

 the Seriema as the type of a distinct Family, whose nearest living 

 allies may be found in the Gruidw (CRANE), Psophiidee (TRUMPETER) 

 and Otididse (BUSTARD) a determination which is probably final. 



SERIN, Fr. Serin, O.F. Serene, Proven^ Serena, supposed to be 

 from Sirene (Lat. Siren), and applied to the bird from its agreeable 

 song the Fringilla serinus of Linnaeus and Serinus hortulanus of 

 recent ornithologists a small FINCH long known to inhabit 

 Southern Europe with Northern Africa, and of late years observed 

 to be extending its range on the continent and to have appeared 

 in England (Yarrell, Br. B. ed. 4, ii. p. 111). Its habits have 

 been described by Mr. Dresser (B. Eur. iii. pp. 551-553) from his 

 personal observation, and by no one better. It is nearly allied to 

 the CANARY-BIRD, though recognizable by its tints, its larger size, 

 proportionally shorter wings and longer tail. Dr. Sharpe (Cat. B. 

 Br. Mus. xii. p. 370) accounts the latter a " subspecies " of the 

 Serin, but without giving his reason for departing from the general 

 practice of considering them distinct species, and thus one is unable 

 to appreciate the validity of his judgment. He however admits 

 18 other species of the genus. 



SHAG, the English name commonly applied all over the world 

 to members of the genus Phalacrocorax in general ; but specialized 

 by British ornithological writers for P. graculus, the smaller of the 

 two species which inhabit the coasts of these islands (CORMORANT, 

 p. 106). In breeding- plumage the Shag, with its plumage of 

 uniform glossy green, its tufted crest the feathers of which curve 



in 1834 saw a defective skeleton sent to Munich by the Brazilian travellers 

 Spix and Martins. His description of it was not, however, published until 

 1853. To it is appended a description by Dr. Creplin of some Entozoa found in 

 the Seriema, but this unfortunately seems to give no help as to the systematic 

 position of the bird. 



