GREENFINCH. 97 



end; those next the body are greyish; tertiaries, greenish 

 grey. Tail, rather short and somewhat forked, yellow for 

 three-fourths of its length, the remainder brownish black, 

 edged with yellow or yellowish grey, but the four middle 

 feathers are nearly all brownish black, being tinged with 

 green at the base only; under tail coverts, light yellowish 

 white. Legs and toes, pale reddish brown; claws, rather 

 dusky. 



The female is about six inches in length; bill, less robust 

 than in the male. Her general plumage is much the same, 

 but considerably duller, and with none of the bright yellow. 

 The back has more brown, of an uniform faint reddish tint. 

 The wings expand to the width of ten inches; the yellow 

 markings on the quill feathers are less bright than in the 

 male; lesser wing coverts, grey. 



The young at first are greenish grey above, and streaked 

 with dark brown on the throat and breast. As the bird 

 advances in age it varies much in brightness or dullness of 

 colouring, the more advanced being almost pure greenish 

 yellow above, the others tinged with brown, and the sides of 

 the head being more or less grey. Bill, pale brown above, 

 pale reddish beneath, the tip brown; in the female it is still 

 paler than in the male, and smaller. Neck in front, greyish 

 brown; breast, greyish brown above, below greyish brown, 

 as are its sides; back, dull olive colour, the centre of each 

 feather faintly tinged with brown. Lesser wing coverts, 

 brown; primaries, dusky brown, their outer margins greenish 

 yellow, but narrow, forming- only lines when closed, instead 

 of a full mark. Legs and toes, pale brownish red. 



VOL. Ill, 



