TEE LAPLAND FINCH. 275 



Its plumage, which is greenish yellow, tinged in parts with 

 ashen grey and blackish brown, resembles in general that of 

 the Green Finch. The forehead, back, and rump are yellowish 

 green ; the back of the head, and the sides of the neck, as far 

 as the throat, grey ; the throat, breast, belly and vent greenish 

 yellow. The smaller wing coverts are yellowish green; the 

 larger, brownish black, with a wide border of yellowish green. 

 The pen feathers are brownish black ; the foremost edged with 

 whitish yellow, the hindmost with yellowish green. The 

 tail is somewhat forked, and all the feathers are blackish 

 brown, edged on the narrow plume with greenish yellow, and 

 on the broad with white. 



The colours of the female are less clear and beautiful : the 

 yellow on the head and lower part of the body is duskier, and 

 the grey on the back of the head and neck extends round the 

 throat tike a collar, and is spotted with greenish yellow. 



Observations. This rare and beautiful Cage-bird is a native 

 of the South of Europe, though sometimes found in those 

 parts of Germany which border on France. It is chiefly kept 

 on account of its song, which resembles that of the Canary, 

 and needs the same treatment as that bird. In its native 

 country, which seems to be the Southern Alps, it builds its 

 nest on thick, shrubby firs, and subsists principally on the 

 seeds of coniferous trees. 



115. THE LAPLAND FINCH. 



Fri'iigilla Laponica, LIN. Grand Montain, BUF. Der Lerchen 

 Fink, BECH. 



Description. The name of the Lark Finch, by which this 

 bird is known in Germany, is exceedingly appropriate, as it so 

 closely resembles the Lark, not only in colour and general 

 appearance, but in having a large spur on its heel, as to be 

 frequently mistaken for it. In one respect, the unfortunate 

 bird suffers for the resemblance, being often killed by the 

 bird-catchers, when taken in their Lark nets. It is about the 

 size of the Yellowhammer, being six and a half inches in 

 length, of which the tail measures nearly two inches. The 

 beak is yellow, tipped with black ; the feet, dark brown. The 

 head is blackish, with specks of whitish orange ; or in some 

 cases quite black. A white stripe passes on each side, from 

 the root of the beak, over the eye, and down the neck, 



