196 THE CAEDINAL GEOSBEAK. 



observed on or near fruit trees, or in woods, near oaks and 

 beeches, and I have never yet met with them on the banks of 

 streams which are shaded by willows. 



" Food. They feed on such seeds as are usually to be found 

 in the fields, and are especially fond of those of the plantain, 

 groundsel, and garden pimpernel. The best diet for them, 

 when in confinement, consists of rape, mixed with a little poppy 

 seed, and occasionally hemp-seed and shelled oats. 



"Breeding. The Serin generally builds its nest on the lower 

 branches of apple and pear trees, sometimes on oaks and 

 beeches; but never, so far as I know, on willows. It is 

 formed, not inartificially, of an external layer of fine root 

 fibres, moss, and lichens (especially Lolaria farmacea), and 

 thickly lined with feathers, cow hair, horse hair, and swine's 

 bristles. The female rarely lays more than four white eggs, 

 shaped like those of the Canary, but a little smaller, and en- 

 circled at the thick end with a row of reddish brown spots. 

 The period of incubation is thirteen or fourteen days, during 

 which the male feeds his mate upon the nest, and afterwards 

 assists her in bringing food to the young birds. Before the 

 first moulting, the young birds bear a strong resemblance to 

 the Grey Linnet, and do not acquire the plumage of their pa- 

 rents till after that period. They may easily be reared on 

 soaked rape seed, but it is better to take old and young toge- 

 ther, and put the whole brood into a cage, when they will 

 persevere in the natural process of instruction. If brought 

 up in confinement, their colours are never so bright as in a wild 

 state ; and after a few years, even birds that were taken when 

 old, become almost white. They breed with Canaries, Siskins, 

 Redpoles, and Goldfinches. 



"Diseases. With the exception of consumption, of which a 

 bird in my possession died, I know of none to which they are 

 liable." 



FOREIGN GROSBEAKS. 



71. THE CAEDINAL GEOSBEAK. 



Loxia Cardinalis, LIN. Grosbec de Virginie, BUF. Der Cardinal 

 Kernbeisser, BECH. 



.- This bird is eight inches in length, of which 

 the tail measures two inches. It is a native of various parts 



